Lotto’s lure leaves cupboards bare, claim storekeeper and grower
People tempted by an ‘‘elusive dream’’ may be sacrificing food on the table in order to buy Lotto tickets.
Last week, the biggest jackpot in New Zealand history of $44 million was won by an Auckland couple from more than 2.3 million tickets sold.
But while the winners celebrated, others may have gone without basic groceries such as vegetables in order to buy tickets, the owners of a supermarket and a vegetable supplier have said.
Palmerston North’s Pioneer New World owner operator Darrin Wong said there was a noticeable dip in food spending.
‘‘I think people don’t quite have as much to spend, there is only so much you can spend. It is like every other business, you notice the money is not quite there.’’
Ohakune vegetable farmer Bruce Rollinson said he noticed a definite link between his sales and big Lotto jackpots.
‘‘In the past, with a jackpot of anything $25 million plus, it does go quiet. It is quite horrendous that people put money on gambling rather than food on the table.’’
Problem Gambling Foundation NZ marketing and communications director Andree Froude said jackpots enticed people to spend more than they could afford.
‘‘We do know that when we have a really big jackpot there is a change in behaviour of people. It is people buying tickets in the hope of winning that elusive dream. If someone spends more than they can afford and can’t put food on the table, that is harmful.’’
Jackpots were aggressively advertised, she said.
‘‘It is very in your face, especially when there is a big jackpot.’’
Last night’s Lotto saw one ticket claim the $1m jackpot, while Powerball went unclaimed.