Ohio’s new Super Lotto Plus recently replaced the Super Lotto as the state’s biggest lottery game, bringing mixed reviews from lottery customers and area businesses.

Monday, August 07, 2000

Ohio’s new Super Lotto Plus recently replaced the Super Lotto as the state’s biggest lottery game, bringing mixed reviews from lottery customers and area businesses.

Like the old game, the new lottery starts with a $4 million jackpot and includes a twice-weekly drawing.

That’s where the similarities end.

Under the new Super Lotto Plus more players can win but the jackpot increases less after each drawing in which there was no winner.

"The very first week there were 116,000 more lottery winners. That’s 116,000 people who wouldn’t have won under the old game system," said Steve Preston of Hart’s Corner convenience store in Chesapeake.

Yet, some businesses that sell lottery tickets have seen a decrease in sales.

"They made it seem like you win more but they only advance the jackpots by $1 million or $2 million each time instead of $4 million," said David Saunders, an employee at Kwik Stop in Ironton.

"They give a lot of $5 prizes, but on a million-dollar jackpot that’s not much," Saunders said. "People do not like it and they aren’t coming in."

Preston said that the amount the Jackpot advances after a no-winner drawing is determined by the participation in the drawing.

The Ohio Lottery Commission keeps statistics on participation via computer, so when a ticket is purchased, it is recorded, he said.

The more participation in the lottery, the larger the jackpot is advanced, he said.

"When the jackpot is higher, then people who wouldn’t ordinarily play in the lottery participate," Preston said. "Now, because the jackpots are based on participation in the lottery, you see more fluctuation between low and high jackpots, and in participants."

So far, the largest jackpot has been $11 million, $8 million of which was held over from the previous Super Lotto. Saturday’s jackpot was $10 million – all Super Lotto Plus money.

Other businesses have seen very little change due to the new lottery.

"I don’t think enough time has passed to make any assessment as to whether people like it or dislike it," said Sue Selb of Shamrock Carry-Out. "I’ve seen very little change in sales."

"I’ve been told statewide that they’ve taken a big loss," Shamrock manager Mike Kidd said.

"Whether it’s true, I don’t know," Kidd said. "We’ve only been very slightly affected. There have been a few people quit playing. But, overall, it’s been pretty consistent."