ND0725126

Title: Illinois Lottery Sales Fall Short of Expectations

Description: Internet lottery sales total only $2.2 million in the three months since sales began in March.

Page Content:

SPRINGFIELD ? Under the first year of private management, the Illinois Lottery generated record sales and profits in fiscal 2012, but fell short of expectations, Crain?s Chicago Business reports.

Sales reached nearly $2.68 billion, up 18%, fueled by Mega Millions sales and a 27% increase in instant ticket sales.

Internet sales produced ?no boost,? Crain?s wrote, which totaled only $2.2 million in the three months after sales began in March ? far below the $128 million a year pace that was predicted. Only 160,000 players have registered to buy tickets via the Internet, far below the 600,000 to 1 million expected eventually.

The lottery?s new manager, Northstar Lottery Group LLC, is revising the lottery?s website and will introduce the changes when Powerball is added to the Internet lineup in the fall.

Content Subject: Marketing/Merchandising

Formatted Article Date: July 25, 2012

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