N.C. could hit sales jackpot with Powerball

Sunday, July 30, 2006 posted 05:03 AM EDT

North Carolina is headed for a record week of Powerball ticket sales with the first $150 million-plus jackpot since the state lottery debuted the high-prize game two months ago.

The state set a single-day sales record of $2.5 million on Wednesday for that evening's $135 million drawing. With no winner from the 31 participating states, the Powerball jackpot grew to $155 million for tonight.

North Carolina's Powerball sales are up nearly 20 percent this week from the same period a week ago when the latest jackpot first broke $100 million.

The bigger jackpots attract players who rarely shell out a dollar on the lottery, experts said.

Players have enjoyed a good run of large Powerball jackpots.

The game has already matched its predicted number of nine-figure jackpots for the year in July. The latest jackpot is the fifth above $100 million, which includes a record $365 million prize won in Nebraska.

Despite the eye-popping prizes, Powerball is not the top revenue source for state lotteries. The headline-grabbing game accounts for less than one-third of revenue for Carolinas lotteries.

Players more consistently buy scratch-off tickets with the promise of better odds and, more recently, bigger prizes than in the past. Instant games account for roughly 60 percent to 70 percent of sales in the Carolinas.

"They are the engine of the lottery," N.C. Lottery Executive Director Tom Shaheen said.

North Carolina is on pace to sell more then $300 million in Powerball tickets in its first year. South Carolina sold $221 million in the year ending in June.

"We see it as sort of gravy," S.C. Lottery Executive Director Ernie Passailaigue said.

N.C. Powerball sales are averaging more than $6 million a week, but this week, Powerball is on track to sell a record $7.5 million in tickets. By comparison, South Carolina sold $19 million in tickets the week of the $365 million prize.

Still N.C. retailers, who keep 7 percent of ticket sales, are seeing some of their largest crowds since the state lottery started in late March.

Mohamed Darwish said he's selling 50 percent more Powerball tickets at his Xpress Mart near Kannapolis since the jackpot rose above $100 million. Warren Liles, who owns a Raleigh convenience store that is among the state's top ticket sellers, said that Wednesday customers were buying $100 in tickets during a single visit for the first time.

Shaheen said recent N.C. sales might be greater if not for "jackpot fatigue" from residents living near the border, such as those in the Charlotte region, who for years have played the lotteries of neighboring states.

Passailaigue agreed: "This is probably a baptism of sorts for players in the middle of the state. Players near the borders don't see ($150 million) as unique. The folks in Raleigh probably get excited when the jackpot is $15 million."

N.C. Powerball Ticket Sales

Record day: Wednesday

$2.5 million

Record week: June 11-17

$6.8 million

Today (projected)

$2.7 million

This week (projected)

$7.5 million

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