Compiled by Vicky Nolan
Americans Like the Lottery
Americans support their lotteries and believe that gaming issues should be decided on the state level instead of at the federal level, a new study has found. GTECH's 8th Annual National Gaming Survey provides insight into the American electorate's view on gambling issues just a few weeks before the nation's election night. The findings should prove interesting too, as Congress is again embroiled in raging debate about not one, not two, but three separate acts proposing to eradicate Internet gambling in the United States. The National Gaming Survey, conducted by American Viewpoint, Inc., shows:
- Americans continue to approve of legalized gaming by nearly a 3 -1 (69 percent - 25 percent) margin.
- Nearly two thirds of Americans (six percent - 31 percent) agree that lotteries are an acceptable form of entertainment.
- Approximately three-quarters (73 percent - 24 percent) of Americans favor state lotteries.
- Seventy two percent of survey respondents report purchasing a lottery ticket in the last 12 months, making lottery America's most played game.
- Seven in ten (70 percent) of Americans would vote in favor of continuing their lottery.
- Two thirds (66 percent-32 percent) of respondents in non-lottery states would vote for establishing a lottery in their state if given the opportunity.
- Americans overwhelmingly (72 percent - 16 percent) say that states, not the federal government, should regulate the forms of gaming in their state.
- More than half of survey respondents agree (54 percent - 36 percent) that lotteries help state governments keep taxes lower.
- Americans strongly prefer lotteries to paying higher taxes (72 percent - 22 percent).
- Americans agree that gambling is a highly regulated industry (58 percent - 30 percent).
- Funding for education (42 percent) is regarded as the main benefit for having a statewide lottery.
- Education is named as the most appropriate use of lottery proceeds (54 percent).
- Nearly two thirds of Americans (65 percent) would be more likely to play the lottery if proceeds were earmarked for a specific purpose.
- Lottery spending trends remain consistent with past surveys as 36 percent of respondents report spending about the same, 24 percent less, 5 percent more, and 34 percent none at all, in the last 12 months.
- Americans firmly hold the opinion (70 percent - 24 percent) that state lotteries should dedicate some of their proceeds to fund research to understand and help problem gamblers.
- Not enough prize money (27 percent) and the improper use of lottery proceeds (24 percent) are seen as the most important problems facing the lottery industry.
- People wasting money they can't afford (33 percent) and the misuse of money (24 percent) are perceived to be the main disadvantages of a statewide lottery.
"These findings are very interesting, particularly in an election year," said W. Bruce Turner, GTECH's chairman. "There have been two separate efforts in the last two years by the federal government to impose federal controls over gaming; the National Gaming Impact Study Commission, and more recently, legislative efforts to regulate Internet gaming at the federal level. The American electorate -- across the entire political, social, and economic spectrums -- strongly supports lotteries and believes that gaming
issues should be decided and regulated by the states, not the federal government."
www.gtech.com/www.amview.com
New Interactive Channels Will Change Consumer Behavior
The influx of interactive channels, like wireless devices, interactive TV, and game consoles, is changing consumer behavior. These channels will generate $23 billion in online sales in 2005, and will influence another $128 billion in offline sales. At the same time, Forrester researchers say, PC's will be used for $246 billion in online sales in 2005. "Despite the fact that dot com retailers have been dropping like flies all year, online retail is alive and well," one staffer said. "In fact, online devices' impact on sales is magnifying and rippling through retail - beyond the Net and into the brick-and-mortar world."
Forrester has revised its U.S. forecast for 2000 upward by 16 percent from $38.6 billion to $44.8 billion. This growth is precipitated by a network effect in which new consumers, retailers, product categories, and technologies increase the value of a market. This year, PC-based sales will total $45 billion, and the PC will influence an additional $13 billion. In 2003, PC-based sales will hit $154 billion, and Internet-enabled devices will influence $146 billion in offline sales. In 2005, PCs and Internet-enabled
devices will generate $269 billion in sales and influence another $378 billion -- more than half a trillion dollars in overall spending.
www.forrester.com
New Methods Could Replace Online Credit Card Payments
Although 98.5 percent of all online transactions are paid with a credit card, a change is afoot. By 2001, newer technologies will bring credit card transactions to 90 percent, as smart cards, electronic wallets and e-checks become more widely available. According to "Real Numbers Behind E-Transactions, Fraud & Security", a study by ActivMedia Research, smart card and e-wallet transaction volumes are set to grow from $500 million in 2000 to $5.7 billion in 2001, and $20 billion in 2002. Automated check handling (ACH) will also expand in 2002, from $300 million in 2000 to $3.2 billion in 2001 and $5.2 billion in 2002. The "Real Numbers" study can be purchased for $1,495 from ActivMedia.
www.activmediaresearch.com