Arizona Lottery growth dwarfs national average

PHOENIX — Despite the difficult economy, the Arizona Lottery’s growth in sales is exemplary by industry standards. According to the calendar 2009 report published by La Fleur’s Magazine, the premier trade magazine reporting on the worldwide lottery industry, the Arizona Lottery ranked first among all state lotteries in instant ticket sales—Scratchers™—and second in sales growth, combining instant and drawing game sales.

“At 12 percent, Arizona was one of only three states that experienced double digit sales increases in 2009,” said Jeff Hatch-Miller, executive director of the Arizona Lottery. “Being an industry leader makes us proud and is a result of the collective efforts of our entire organization.”

Spurred by close coordination with the Lottery’s 2,741 retailers and an ongoing effort to add value for Lottery players, the Arizona Lottery experienced a 22 percent sales increase over the past five years while sales growth for the other 43 state lotteries averaged 10 percent, as reported by GTECH Data Analytics, a leading gaming technology and services company. The same report noted that over the last five years the Arizona Lottery had the sixth best per capita growth when compared to the other 43 state lotteries.

Hatch-Miller said this strategic direction would continue, adding that the Lottery is committed to “making the Arizona Lottery the best lottery in the nation for people who enjoy playing.”

Among the objectives to continue sales growth, Hatch-Miller cited the following Lottery efforts:

· Growing the Lottery’s base of retailers to include more places where games are available to more players

· Identifying new ways to communicate with core players to provide information on winning numbers, special offers, new games and upcoming Lottery events

· Continuing to enhance the Lottery’s digital marketing efforts through an evolving Lottery website (www.arizonalottery.com) and mobile technologies—including the recent launch of the Lottery’s first-ever texting tool for the in-state jackpot game The Pick

· Introducing more product options and game variety, offering prizes that appeal to a broader spectrum of players

“We are certain that the next five years can be even more successful than the previous five,” Hatch-Miller said. “We are committed to serving the citizens of Arizona – and chief among our objectives obviously is to increase revenue for the state of Arizona.”

About the Arizona Lottery
The Arizona Lottery operates entirely from the revenue it generates through the sale of its products; it receives no General Fund dollars from the State. Proceeds from sales of Lottery tickets-nearly $3 million per week - fund a wide variety of public projects and programs including arts, wildlife, parks, transportation, education and historic preservation in cities and towns throughout all 15 counties in Arizona. Since July 1981, the Arizona Lottery has paid out over $3.9 billion in prizes to players, more than $2.3 billion in net profit to the state, and almost $500 million in commissions to retailers. Must be 21 to play.