Lottery's Luster Scratching Off

Experts say casinos offer better odds, more fun
By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 29, 2007 3:43 PM CDT
Lottery's Luster Scratching Off
%u201CThe lottery used to be the only game in town,%u201D said Marc Lefkowitz, executive vice president of the California Council on Problem Gambling. %u201CAnd people only have so many gambling dollars to spend.%u201D   (Shutterstock.com)

The fever over big lottery jackpots is cooling as huge payouts become more common, and lose their once-in-a-lifetime cachet. What's more, the growing casino scene is muscling in on the lotto's territory -- casinos offer a better chance of winning, in a more electric atmosphere than your local 7-Eleven.

The longest shot at a casino carries odds of about one in 40 million—California's Mega Millions is pegged at one in 175,711,536. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports California lotto sales are down, and the Governator has mused about privatizing the lottery to increase efficiency. “The lottery used to be the only game in town, and people only have so many gambling dollars to spend," says one expert. (More casino stories.)

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