The lottery is now a billion-dollar business in the Maritimes, as Atlantic Lottery’s annual report confirms with yet another year of high profits.
Theresa Mullin, a lottery retailer in Moncton, says she has seen her fair share of winners, as people are playing more and winning more.
“6/49 and the Max,” says Mullin. “We have our regulars on games like Keno and Salsa, and ShaBam, but the majority of people make sure they have at least the 6/49 and the Max on a weekly basis.”
Sales in those tickets have translated into a strong year financially for Atlantic Lottery. Revenue for 2013 has topped $1 billion, while the share divided among the four Atlantic provinces is $368 million.
“That’s a $7-million increase from last year and its reversing a trend that we saw for the past four or five years of softening profits,” says Craig Ennis of Atlantic Lottery.
Most of the revenue comes from lottery tickets, while VLTs are down for the second year in a row.
“That’s partly due to, for instance, it was a tough winter and those are destination games where you would go out and play,” says Ennis.
Atlantic Lottery also says it is being held back because it can’t offer online gambling like other provinces.
Officials say the corporation paid out more than $384 million to Atlantic Canadians.
“We’ve been on a streak now of eight or 10 major wins in the past six or seven months, so the payouts are high,” says Ennis.
While winnings are up by $17 million, lottery player Jules Arseneau hopes to get a piece of the pie as he plays his regular numbers on the next Lotto 6/49 draw.
“We just think they’re lucky numbers. Maybe someday.”
With files from CTV Atlantic's Jonathan MacInnis
