• Posts Tagged ‘lottery’

    South Dakota- Lottery or Slots?

    Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

    South Dakota has made some changes that not everyone in the state is happy about. Right now most states in the US use some form of a lottery to generate funds. They know that lotteries are traditionally popular and people love to take a shot at winning with them. What better setup? All a person has to do is buy a chance for a few dollars and then they have the chance to win part of, or the entire payout. That payout can reach well into the millions too so the excitement over winning is something you can’t beat either. Lotteries are highly popular and people love them- that has been proven by their growing popularity. The problem though is that since the recession, people have had to cut back on their spending overall and that includes the money they are putting into lotteries and buying chances for a big win. This is exactly what South Dakota is experiencing now. The state is showing a serious decline in revenue thanks to people cutting back. The state has a problem though because they have come to rely on the millions of dollars flowing through the lottery system and already earmarked the money for various purposes. Without that money, they can’t meet their budgetary needs and this is creating a financial hole for the state to work with.

    Their solution is controversial. The state of South Dakota’s legislators are installing “lottery machines.” These machines are supposed to allow people to wager more easily on lotteries and elevate the amount of revenue coming in. The problem though is that some activists claim that the machines are too close to slot machines for their liking. They believe that the state is trying to sneak in slots games for the purpose of money without putting them into actual casinos. The debate is going on right now and who knows what is going to happen. Either way, the machines need to be approved through legislation and that means that there is still time needed to build up their case to bring the games in. Slots had been used throughout history to build up revenue stream, but not under the guise of “lottery machines.” That deception is what activists have a problem with.

    Slots Gaming More Secure than Lotteries

    Thursday, January 13th, 2011

    Ignacio Gonzalez almost lost a $12-million dollar lottery ticket. This is one of the problems with lottery tickets- they are easily thrown out with the trash. It was a few months ago when Gonzalez, along with fourteen other friends, purchased the tickets to try to win the big payout. When the numbers were read they quickly realized they were winners. They still didn’t realize that the tickets were thrown out though. Once they did, in a frantic effort they started piecing through the dumpsters in their area to find the ticket. Luckily they located it, but what if they hadn’t? This is one of the problems that slots gamers never have to face and one of the reasons why the games are so popular. You stand at a slots game and wager. If you win, you know immediately. There is no ticket to keep for weeks. If the machines do work with a ticket, you take it immediately to the cashier’s cage to cash out. The only real danger is losing that ticket before you get to the cash cage, but this is a relatively fixable one.

    Slots’ gaming still takes the lead with casino gamblers because of the issues it doesn’t have. You aren’t going to have to worry about a lot with slots gaming. Your biggest decisions are made on your own. What is your bankroll? What is you r loss limit per machine? What is your blind pull limit per machine? These are all questions that are well within your control and if you know the answers to them, you are going to have no problems with gambling. there is no such thing as a lost ticket to worry about, or sharing your spoils with friends. This is another huge draw of slots gaming—it is played between you and the machine—no dealer, no opponents, no friends to share spoils with. You just sit at a game and take your best shot at spinning the reels. as long as you have your limits in order, and are committed to following them, you are going to have little to no problems with the games.

    Lottery and Slots Similar but Not the Same

    Friday, January 7th, 2011

    Are slots and lottery games the same? A lot of new gamers ask whether or not there is a difference between slot machines and lottery. The answer is that they are very similar. Both of the games fall under the general category of buying chances to winning money and the outcome is completely based on luck. There are two types of games in the gambling market – those that are based on strategy and those based on luck. Games that are based on strategy are games like poker and blackjack. These games require some time to hone a skill. You are going to expect to put a few months at least into studying the games before you start winning. Poker has definite moves and any professional player can tell you about the years they have spent working their way to the poker table and big-dollar wins. This isn’t the case with slots or the lottery. These games are based solely on luck. The games payout at random and that means you don’t have to “do” anything to increase your chances of winning—they are what they are.

    In the US research has shown that the chances of winning the US Powerball is one in about 80,100,000. The odds at winning the Mega Bucks jackpot is one in over 49,000,000. Slots games come with much better odds than that. They are calculated based on a variety of things like the number of reels, the number or paylines, etc. Every game has this information though posted on is instructions sticker. You can find it and see what your chances of winning. If you see two games with different odds, you should always play the game with the highest percentage of payout. This may not seem like much, but the odds can change your outcome. You want to make sure that you take advantage of as many small percentage points as you can. In the end slots and the lottery are very similar. With slots though you get the chance to actively participate in the actual game. On the other hand, the state lottery involves buying a ticket and then walking away.

    Play Slotto Slots Game for Lottery Fun

    Thursday, December 30th, 2010

    If you love both the lottery and slots gaming then you may like the new slots game Slotto Slots. This is a game that combines the two styles of games into one exciting new offering in the online casino world. You can trust that this is going to be a good game based on the fact that it was developed by IGT, or International Game Technology. This is a company that has a long list of games to its credit that have all met the standards of millions of gamers worldwide. The company is great at building games with integrated sound, visual appeal and overall flexibility in all other aspects. The Slotto Slots game has been such a popular game in the market though that quickly developers have made different configurations of the game. you can find a lot of versions online today. The first thing you are going to love about the game is the double spin. In this one you can get 100,000 coins as a bonus. The maximum number of coins you can wager is one-hundred-and-eighty and you are going to be able to play with over fifteen different coin wagers. That means you can wager anywhere from just $1.80 per spin, on up to $1,800 per spin! The game itself is a 5-reel game that has nine different paylines to enjoy.

    The games you are going to find with the Slotto Slots name to them are vast too. You can find Popcorn Slotto Slots games. These are the ones that are normally three-reeled though, so expect a smaller game in general. Some of the games come with additional buy-a-pay features to enjoy too. It is a nice variation so you won’t get bored with the overall game. In the world of slots gaming, you can expect more and more gamers to put together bigger and better deals for the gamers. They know that to keep people happy they have to continue to build games they are going to love. It is a great deal to find these games. If you are looking for a new game to play, then test out the series of Slotto Slots games. They are all great gaming fun plus they come with enough bonuses that you should be able to walk away with something extra for your trouble.

    Lottery and Slots Team Up

    Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

    If you love the lottery and slots gaming, then you should test out the new Slotto Slot machine game. This is a game originated by IGT. Again IGT is a company that has brought hundreds of fine games to the world of online play. Most likely if you love to wager, then you have played these games by the company already. If you haven’t then here is your chance. The new Slotto Slot game offers lottery fun, packaged up in a slots format. The actual game is a five-reel game that has nine-paylines. This means that it is intricate and even the most seasoned gamer should enjoy it. The big jackpot for this game is 100,000 coins and that is nothing to laugh at. You could win a lot of extra coinage with this game. there are also seventeen different coin denominations you can use with the game so you can wager anywhere from $1.80 per spin, on up to $1,800 per spin! That huge spread is part of what makes this and other slots games so flexible. You are going to love the slots and lottery combination. Most slots gamers love the lottery and have at least some working knowledge of the game. It sets you up for online fun because it is a great game working here. Test it out for some great gaming fun.

    When you get into the game, expect lots of lottery references and fun. The game has a lottery ball you are going to watch and this is going to calculate the number you end up winning when you are done with the game. Thus far Slotto slots has ended up being so popular that IGT has created more than one version of the game. This is a sign of how casinos work with games today. If they are particularly popular, then the development company will recreate the game to new configurations to attract as many gamers as possible. You can also expect new generations of games as you wager. If a game is particularly successful you will see more than one of its kind in the market. Enjoy IGT’s new Slotto slots game. You are going to love the theme and the varying wager requirements.

    Oregon Latest State to Start Slots Debate

    Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

    Oregon is the latest state to make waves with decisions involving slot machines. Like most states, Oregon suffered huge financial losses during the hard-hitting recession. The state had a record number of foreclosures, falling house values and a soaring unemployment rate. All these things caused people to stop spending and that is what sent the state, and others, into a tailspin of debt. Almost every state has huge deficits to deal with. The deficit is what is left over after expenses are subtracted from income that is a lower number. Rather than having a surplus, every state has a deficit.

    Managing that deficit has become a premiere thought on the minds of legislators in the nation. They are trying to come up with ways to manage it by using slots and gambling. They believe that the gambling tax revenues generated by gambling will save their individual economies. Oregon is joining in the argument by bringing in slots to increase their revenues. Unfortunately the economy has not made slots as lucrative as hoped.

    One trend in the market seems to be that states bring in slot machines and place them in novel areas like bars, pubs, airports or racinos. People play the games in mass at the beginning, but then they slowly pull back with spending. It may be the after effects of the recession that is causing this cautionary gambling or it may be the loss of the novelty of gambling.  No one knows for sure, but it is cause for concern with states that are relying on gambling revenues to fund important programs. 

    Oregon is not giving up hope though. The state still believes that slots are the answer to their budgetary woes. The state is making the move to bring in new slot machines and put them into various before-untapped locations. Legislators are hoping that the move will spur in some additional customers and bring in more money.  The state installed 400 new slot machines in bars and has a long-term plan of installing 2,000 more.  The director of the state’s lottery noted that he is hoping these new machines will bring in people who “normally wouldn’t gamble” into the businesses. With the added business, the state will be able to still maintain its plan of overcoming its huge deficit in funding.

    Florida Expands Lottery

    Friday, October 2nd, 2009

    Florida is quickly expanding their gambling outlets. The state recently placed lottery vending machines throughout various locations.  CGW Gaming Expert Brad Dawkins warned though that, “People who already have gambling problems and are sometimes embarrassed to buy their tickets at the counter, will now be free to buy their tickets without having to interact with anyone. This could create a new wave of problem gambling in Florida.” Dawkins is advising legislators to be cautions about jumping into expanding lottery outlets. The results could be detrimental to Floridians as a society and cause many other problems.

    The ease in purchasing lottery tickets is causing concern within the Sunshine State. Tickets for purchase as the kiosks range from $1 to $30 each and are accessible at various locations.  This expansion has brought a Powerball Lottery to the general public and it will eventually expand to all the Seminole casinos in the state. This convenience of gambling is the issue that many religious-based and ethically-based organizations are worried about. They are voicing their displeasure with Florida’s decision to expand gambling and cautioning that this could notably increase the number of people addicted to the hobby. They believe that without safeguards, the state is setting its citizens up for disaster.

    The state of Florida, however, is looking for revenue. Just like all US states, legislators are looking for ways to handle huge deficits and expenses. They are stifled due to the huge expenses and debt the recession has left the country in.  One viable option to increasing revenues is to expand gambling and use the gambling-tax dollars to close in the gap of revenue versus expenses. Florida is looking to close that gap any way possible and overlooking the huge revenue potential with expanding gambling is not one it will pass up quickly. They know that by cutting out the long lines and waiting on a cashier, people will buy lottery tickets more readily. The state is already planning on expanding the lottery kiosks to even more locations if the already set-up kiosks prove they are generating money. It’s estimated that millions of tax dollars could potentially be brought in via the lottery expansion.

    Oregon Tries to Increase Lottery and Gambling

    Saturday, August 29th, 2009

    The recession has made every state desperate for added cash. Huge deficits and high expenses are causing states to look to gambling taxes as a way of making ends meet.  One state that is currently toying with their lottery is Oregon.  Oregon, like most states, has had a long time success rate with lotteries.  Lotteries are when numbers are called. Each day people bet on what numbers are being called and wager. If they match all numbers, or a set amount of numbers, they win cash prizes. 

    Unfortunately due to the economy, Oregon is seeing a lull in lottery participants. As a response they have installed 400 slot machines in various bars across the state. The hope is that readily accessible slots will not only spur people to play them, but also extend their wagering to the lottery once again. Director of the Lottery Dale Penn stated that the long-term plan is to install an additional 2,100 games, many of which will replace outdated machines.  He added, “We’re real hopeful that we can bring some players back and encourage others to play more.”

    The main goal of the move to expand slots is to bring in much needed revenue.  The state is projecting a $40 million decrease in revenue from lotteries, as a result of people not spending.  Much of the world is in the same position.  Businesses need people to start spending again to turn around, but people are still tight-fisted with their money. Many are still recovering from lay-offs, unemployment, foreclosure, and debt.  Discretionary spending has been slowly dwindling as the recession has made its way through the economy.  And now, though the recession is thought to be mostly over, people are taking a wait-and-see attitude towards returning to their normal spending habits. Spokeswoman for Oregon’s lottery Mary Loftin confirmed this by stating, “The gambling industry as a whole for years was thought to be recession proof, but this recession has changed that view. Across the country, lottery sales are down.

    Oregon has also instilled a no-smoking policy for all bars and taverns. This too can eat away at lottery winnings because smokers may be more prone to go to Indian-run casinos, rather than smoke-free environments to gamble.  The new slots and video machines cost $30 million to install. Only time will tell if they will be effective at bringing people back to gambling.