The gambling industry is watching sales plummet in several states: down 6 percent in Wisconsin, 30 percent in Texas and 40 percent in Massachusetts.
"Jackpot fatigue" is how the industry describes a loss of interest in top prizes, ones that used to draw people out of the woodwork and get the media excited.
Bobby Heith, governmental affairs director for the Texas Lottery Commission, told Family News in Focus the bar keeps getting higher. He said not long ago, sales would pick up when the prize hit $25 million.
"Then over a period of time, it was $50 million," he said. "Now it seems to be it has to reach triple digits before you really start to see the sales increase."
One theory is that parts of the gambling industry have reached a plateau. But Chad Hills, gambling analyst for Focus on the Family Action, said he thinks gamblers are simply getting tired of continually losing.
"People, after playing for a while, realize, 'Well, I'm only getting small wins and I'm spending a lot of money and nothing's really happening,' " he said. "They become bored with lotteries."
With typical odds being 175,000,000 to 1, Hills says gamblers have figured out the truth behind the slogan, "You can't win if you don't play."
"If you buy a lottery ticket, you're going to lose," he said. "Instead of buying a lottery ticket, your money's better spent on a cup of coffee. At least you're getting something in return for your investment. Better yet, put that dollar toward a savings plan or put it in a piggy bank for a family vacation."
