Spangled lottery sales lack luster
After an extended deadline, countless complaints, and sub par ticket sales, the Massachusetts State Lottery held its Star Spangled Sweepstakes drawing last night , making one ticket holder $20 million richer.
The odds of winning one of the 51 prizes were about 1 in 26,335 , according to Mass Lottery Communications Director Beth Bresnahan . The drawing included a top prize of $20 million , 10 $1 million prizes , and 40 prizes of $250,000 .
But the state's first sweepstakes game did not have the success officials had hoped for. Lottery vendors were able to sell only about 1.5 million of the $20 tickets , falling well short of the 4 million goal and leaving the lottery with a $12 million loss .
"We thought that we could sell the 4 million tickets based off of what other lottery sweepstakes have done with similar-type games and based on sales of our other products," Bresnahan said. "Ultimately, we believe this wasn't as successful because it's a new concept. Players are more comfortable with the instant gratification of scratch-offs."
The sweepstakes did bring in some extra revenue in the three days leading up to the drawing, as vendors continued to sell tickets after the June 30 deadline.
"It's not possible to know exactly how many more tickets we sold since Saturday," Bresnahan said. "But our agents have reported to us that there has been a steady pick up in sales in the past few days."
These extra days may have helped decrease the lottery's overall loss on the sweepstakes, but many ticket holders complained that the additional sales decreased their odds of winning. The lottery disagreed with the complaints, saying the continued sales were legal.
"As with other lottery instant games, and following applicable rules and regulations, agents can continue to sell sweepstakes tickets until the tickets are picked up by a lottery employee," a statement from the lottery said.
The $20 million ticket was sold at the Hatfield Market. 