There is a large and active market for lottery products worldwide. State and foreign governmental authorities and their licensees in approximately 200 jurisdictions worldwide operate lotteries. Worldwide lottery ticket sales in fiscal year 2010 will approximate $245 billion. In the United States, there are currently 44 jurisdictions offering lottery products. In fiscal year 2010, lottery sales in the United States were approximately $52.4 billion. Worldwide lotteries also spend approximately $5 billion annually on marketing and advertising.

Government Authorization

Governments have authorized lotteries primarily as a means of generating non-tax revenues. Lottery revenues are often a means by which to generate revenues without raising taxes and are frequently set-aside for particular public purposes, such as education, aid to the elderly, conservation, transportation and economic development. As lottery ticket sales have become a significant source of funding for such programs, many jurisdictions have come to rely on the revenues generated by such sales.

Lottery Sales Growth

Worldwide lottery ticket sales grew at a compounded annual rate of just 3% for the seven years from 2004 through 2010. This relatively flat sales trend is counter to the double-digit growth being experienced by legalized casino gaming establishments throughout the United States (not to mention the offshore e-gaming websites). Of interest, e-gaming sites are among the most popular and “sticky” sites on the Internet.

A number of factors have been identified as contributing to the slowdown in lottery sales. Among the principal factors are:

• Off Shore e-gaming. In 2010 e-gaming managed by off-shore companies aggregated approximately $20 billion of which US citizens' play is estimated to be approximately 35%.
• New Products. The last few years have had a noticeable lack of new product offerings. The introduction of video lottery terminals and Keno in a handful of states and the testing of probability instant scratch games in one or two states are the extent of new products.
• Jackpot Fatigue. The cross-selling of Powerball and MegaMillions have increased the odds and thus, over time, the size of the jackpots, reaching levels of $150 million to $250 million. Player interest in everyday jackpot amount ($5 to $20 million) is minimal.
• Aging player base. The lottery player, particularly those who play traditional lotto games and daily number draw games are getting older. Lotteries have not be able to convert enough younger players to be loyal lotto or daily draw players, in some cases threatening the viability of these games in some states.
• Instant Ticket Maturity. The instant ticket scratch product has fueled much of the growth in the North American lottery industry during the past 15 years. Lotteries discovered that their players wanted instant results and products that were more entertaining and fun. However, scratch tickets have shown a significant slowing of growth as the product matures and fewer new offerings are presented.
• Advertising. Lottery advertising budgets have not increased in most states and have been dramatically reduced or eliminated in other states. Lotteries are forced to find new, less expensive ways to communicate if they are to maintain their level of advertising impressions with the playing public.
• Retail Consolidations. The proliferation of chain retail stores has also created a reduction in local, neighborhood “Mom and Pop” stores, making the purchase of lottery tickets inconvenient for those with busy schedules or who are less mobile. Additionally, the growth of self-serve gas at most convenience stores has eliminated the need to go into the store and buy an impulse item like a lottery ticket.