Written by
Nannette Miranda, ABC7
SACRAMENTO, CA - California lottery tickets are hot these days.
So hot, the state is on pace to set a record by the end of the fiscal year in June: $4 billion in sales, the highest ever in its 26 year history.
Brenda Hoyt and Malanie Fox do their part to help.
"The hope of maybe I'll hit a good one," Lottery Player Brenda Hoyt laughs. "At this point, $500 is really good."
Lottery officials credit the spike to a new scratcher game that began last fall and all 36 million tickets printed will likely sell out by the end of the month.
"It's really all about the scratcher games. People love our scratchers ticket," California Lottery Alex Traverso said. "We've got a $10 ticket on the market that is selling unbelievably well. That's really been the difference."
But is it really the new game or are the poor feeling desperate?
Last year, before the new scratcher, sales jumped nearly 15 percent.
Consumer psychologist Kit Yarrow said the economy definitely plays a role.
"When people feel like they have less money and less economic security, they spend more money on lottery ticket," Golden Gate University Professor Dr. Kit Yarrow said. "The very people that shouldn't be buying lottery tickets, those with the least amount of money, are the most likely to increase spending in a bad economy."
The Lottery said it's not just the poor who are playing, their surveys show customers are from all economic backgrounds, mirroring California.
Whatever the reason, the winners in the end are public schools; they get almost one-third of proceeds.
If the record sales hold, classrooms could see an extra $80 million.
But, school finance consultant Kevin Gordon warns districts that if voters reject Gov. Jerry Brown's tax initiative more cuts are on the horizon.
"Our advice is to take that money you get from the lottery and put into the reserves," School Finance Consultant Kevin Gordon said. "Don't spend it."
Nannette Miranda
ABC7
ABC7/KGO