Lotto Texas
Audited Sales Figures

1993 - $767,755,147

1994 - $1,173,785,320

1995 - $1,178,828,428

1996 - $869,258,961

1997 - $906,325,524

1998 - $801,244,058

*1999 - $714,715,890

2000 - $583,467,709

**2001 - $695,170,106

***2002 - $595,385,317

****Total - $8,288,602,921

*The TLC's fiscal year runs from Sept 1 thru August 31. The first report of adding 4 balls to Lotto Texas appeared in the Dallas Morning News on August 29, 1999 - which was the end of fiscal year 1999 and the start of their 2000 fiscal year.

The rule [to add 4 balls] was officially posted in the Texas Register on Sept 10, 1999 and was withdrawn on Oct 7, 1999 due to opposition.

There were only 3 and one-half months during fiscal 2000 that there was NO talk of adding 4 balls as they started discussing new game options during the Jan 2000 meeting. Players were and still are angry and it shows in the sales figures.

The TLC adopted the amendment to add 4 balls on May 12, 2000 and 6/54 began on July 21, 2000. They lost supporters at this time. (Even me.) Note that this is also near the end of fiscal year 2000.

Since players learned, in 1999, that the sole intent of the Texas Lottery was to create games that players couldn't win,
sales have never recovered.

**Players chase dreams ... It took 11 draws, 1-31-01 thru 3-7-01, to reach an advertised $85 million jackpot compared to 6 draws to reach a $77 million jackpot previously. During this "$85 million roll," [11 draws] sales totaled $136,455,086. This, coupled with the $38M, $40M (twice), $48M & $60M jackpots, is the main reason sales were this high in fiscal 2001.

Now let's look at the total sales for each of the drawings leading up to the $85 million jackpot.

1-31-01 $3,891,903
2-03-01 $4,856,889
2-07-01 $4,883,521
2-10-01 $5,864,280
2-14-01 $6,029,392
2-17-01 $7,488,039
2-21-01 $8,264,974
2-24-01 $10,433,683
2-28-01 $13,939,229
3-03-01 $20,327,827
3-07-01 $50,525,349
Total: $136,455,086

These sales figures represent the reason the TLC wants to change Lotto Texas again (Dec 2002 - Jan 2003). The higher the jackpot, the more Texans will spend. The only way sales and the jackpot will climb is for there to be no winners. With no top prize winner during a 2 month period, and an $85 million advertised jackpot, they can sell 50+ million tickets in just 3 days while knowing that only the TLC and a handful of people will profit.

Also, sales for the $77 million jackpot were higher than they were for the $85 million jackpot. For details, click here.

There appears to be no concern for the overspending caused by players "hopes and dreams" of winning the lottery. All they want to do in insure that it will happen more often!

***Not an audited figure

****Audited sales figures do not include
the promotional (free) tickets.

Jackpot Amounts
& Total Wins
For Each
Out of 251 Drawings since 6/54, 7-21-00 - 12-12-02 ...

$4M - 9 Times
$6M - 3 Times
$7M - 1 Time
$9M - 6 Times
$10M - 2 Times
$13M - 4 Times
$12M - 1 Time
$15M - 1 Time
$16M - 1 Time
$17M - 1 Time
$19M - 2 Times
$20M - 2 Times
$21M - 1 Time
$22M - 1 Time
$23M - 1 Time
$24M - 1 Time
$25M - 1 Time
$26M - 1 Time
$27M - 2 Times
$28M - 1 Time
$34M - 1 Time
$36M - 1 Time
$38M - 1 Time
$40M - 3 Times
$48M - 1 Time
$60M - 1 Time
$70M - 1 Time
$85M - 1 Time

Total - 52 Jackpots Won

This averages one win out of every 5 drawings.

And the TLC thinks this is too many winners so they need to make Lotto Texas harder to win.

Shame on them.

Unclaimed Prizes Figures - All Games

1993 - $2,987,427

1994 - $36,360,220

1995 - $36,433,875

1996 - $38,632,316

1997 - $45,312,148

1998 - $41,951,358

1999 - $48,100,220

2000 - $35,517,171

2001 - $38,939,061

2002 - $69,570,494.67

Total - $393,804,291.47

Unclaimed prizes figures are unbelievably high. This money is not returned to players even though it comes from the percentage of sales that the rule says "shall" be returned to players.

There are 2 basic reasons these figures are so high.

1. Lottery terminals err - see proof

2. Scratch tickets are too complicated and players don't realize they've won or at least, broke even.

In September 2002, the TLC testified that the majority of these funds were derived from the smaller prizes that were unclaimed. This is why the TLC wants to offer $1, $2, $5 and $7 prizes. Who is going to drive 20 to 100 miles to collect this amount?