Sales of New Mexico Lottery scratch-off tickets were up 4 percent last month over the same period in 2019, with sales totaling about $7 million.
Despite the increase, according to the Albuquerque Journal, New Mexicans are spending less overall on lottery games, because there have been few big jackpots in national games such as Powerball and Mega Millions. Those jackpots historically cause a run on ticket sales, especially when the payouts get in the $250 million range and above.
When Mega Millions reached $1.5 billion in fiscal 2019, the New Mexico Lottery posted record sales. The Powerball game also had a $768 million prize the same year.
“We haven’t seen any really large jackpots,” marketing director Wendy Ahlm said. “That really affects the bottom line.”
As a result, the lottery expects to reap less for the fiscal year ending June 300—$37 million, down from the projected $40.9 million.
The lottery is the only legal betting option in New Mexico now; lottery retailers, primarily based in convenience and grocery stores, have all remained open during the coronavirus as essential businesses. State-licensed racetrack-casinos were closed under state Department of Health orders, and tribal casinos voluntarily closed about the same time as the racinos.
Lottery games in New Mexico range from the “Fast $25” ticket that costs $1 for a chance to win $25 to the “Super Triple Red 777’s,” in which a $10 ticket has a top prize of $100,000. Gambling opponents criticize the lottery, saying it’s directed at the poor, the Journal reported.
“There are many studies that show the economically disadvantaged spend their money on this type of lottery,” said Guy Clark, a dentist and longtime New Mexico gambling opponent.
