Lottery Not Worried about Slot Machines

Even though Pennsylvania is bringing in up to 61,000 slot machines, lottery operators are not concerned. They say that the lotto and the slot machine are two different beasts, and those that play lotto will continue to do so. They say that you cannot get more convenient with locations to play the lottery as you can go to almost any convenience store and get a ticket – but with the slot machines you can only play them certain places.

They are actually happy that the slot machines are coming, as they say that the amount of money that was being played in other states from the people of Pennsylvania was ridiculous, and now all of that slot machine revenue will stay in-house. They think that slot machines can be very good for the state if they are regulated and handled correctly.

They are concerned about addiction, for although the lotto gets some addicts – slot machines will be a much bigger draw. They think there is a much greater chance that someone will become addicted to a slot machine than to a lotto ticket.

But they think that it isn’t a real competition between the two, since the lotto already co-exists with the racetracks, and adding slot machines to the mix will only add to gambling, not take away from one over another. They cite studies that show that in states where slot machines were added, the lottery did not suffer for it.

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