California Lottery Celebrates 30th Anniversary With $30 Scratcher
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Feeling lucky enough to pick up a lottery scratcher? Anyone who's feeling really optimistic might want to consider picking up one of the California Lottery's new $30 scratchers.
The new scratchers were recently introduced to commemorate the California Lottery's 30th anniversary. The new tickets feature the California state bear and better overall odds than any other scratcher – 1 in 2.62, according to the California Lottery.
Sales of the commemorative ticket for the first three days of this week are already at $6.5 million, and sales just continue to grow as more of the California Lottery's locations receive the new game, spokesman Alex Traverso said.
A couple of the locations that are already selling the ticket include the oft-lucky Bluebird Liquor store in Hawthorne and Fresh Donuts at 3220 W. Century Blvd. in Inglewood.
CBS2's Kristine Lazar reports not everyone is thrilled at the new price for this top game.
Many customers she found were willing to pay that price. But gambling addition experts are scratching their heads.
"It's just the chance you take," said weekly lottery player Harriet Love.
She said the $30 price didn't throw her at all.
"Not for $10 million," she said.
(There are three $10 million tickets up for grabs, say lottery officials.)
Darryl Benton said the price was a little steep for him. Lazar asked him how his wife would feel if he purchased the $30 ticket.
"I don't think I'd tell her," he laughed.
Gambling addiction advocates aren't laughing. They're accusing the lottery of using its 30th anniversary to prey on people who are vulnerable.
The CA Council Problem Gambling stopped short of criticizing the new lottery game but Robert Jackson said in a statement, "It is known that people with gambling disorders develop a heightened tolerance over time and are prone to place larger wagers.
