A study carried out by FOX13 has reportedly revealed that anxiety related to COVID-19 has resulted in an increase in lottery play across the state of Tennessee and in Shelby County.
The data used in the study, which was obtained from the Tennessee Department of Revenue and the Education Lottery Corporation, revealed an increase in sales with the existence of the COVID-19 pandemic cited as the main reason for this upward trend.
Fox13’s report stated: “People deal with stress about the pandemic in different ways. But when you compare the tax revenue figures year to year during the month of March, it seems some people relaxed with a chance at winning it big.”
The figures provided by the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation showed a 20% rise in sales when comparing March 24 through to mid-May 2020, roughly the time period in which local governments began closing non-essential businesses, to the same timeframe last year.
“The casinos were closed right? So, what does that mean? Let me take my chance and get a lottery ticket,” was the explanation given by a weekly lottery player to FOX13 in regard to the rise in player numbers.
FOX13’s report also reveals that an extra $5m has been won by players in Shelby County in 2020 than in the previous year.
