Opportunty Knocks for The Pick 6 as Lotto costs more

By Thandiwe Mthethwa

The proposed Lotto ticket price increase has angered players and consumer unions.

Players will have to fork out more from March 28 to stand a chance to win as the lotto ticket will cost R1 more and the lotto plus will cost 50c extra.

Gidani spokesperson Thembi Tulwana justified the increase, saying it would benefit the players because they would stand a chance of winning more money to help them in these tough economic times.

"This is our first price increase since the Lotto started nine years ago. We also want to increase the money the players will be winning. People understand the economic times and the reasons for the increase," said Tulwana.

However, some players feel that the increase is unfair.

"I have been playing the lotto for five years, but the most I have won is R21 - not even enough to cover what I have spent on the tickets. Now, with this increase, it means I will be contributing more money to the lottery board. That just does not make sense," said Thomas Langa.

Consumer unions, the National Consumer Union and the National Consumer Forum, said they found the increase disturbing because the lottery board was not running at a loss. They said the increase could make the poor poorer.

"I would advise players to be wary about spending money on playing the lotto as they have a slim chance that they will win the millions," said National Consumer Union spokesperson Ina Wilkins.

Compliments of www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_i...0225131831412C450906

Operators here is your chance to regain market share and market the alternative Lotto - the Pick6 bet

What a missed opportunity not Horse Racing operators!!!!

what a crock: this person needs to be locked up for suggesting that the chance of winning more will help players in tough economic times. of all the gaming products available, the Lotto has the worst return to player of them all. promoting Lotto as a route to riches is a certain route to accentuate poverty, not alleviate it. f&*king disgrace.

I agree 100% Greenbook, in this country its a poor show, trying to take more money from the majority of SA citizens below the bread line, with virtually no chance of a return!

The Lotto is a scam for the operators and should be banned.

In the good old days, the Natal Lotto operated using Tote outlets as a "company not for gain" and published audited accounts that showed administrating costs of, I think from memory, of the order of 2.5% of turnover, with 47.5% of turnover going to Charities and 50% going to winners.

The current situation is that 34%, I think, goes on administation (and profits???) so obviously we are being ripped off by the administrators. Hence there is no way that I would consider punting the Lotto and haven't done so since the good old days of the Natal Lotto when every thing was above board.
Notwhithstanding the above anyone with any modicum of sense will know that a 13.8 million to 1 chance of winning the Lotto is a no brainer and the fact that 18 winners suddendly arose last week is totally bullshit.

Please can I have a vote on marketing the P6 to the non raing public as an alternate lotto.

This might spark an idea at the operator. Pointless commenting on inefficiencies of the operators. Please can we simply have a vote or a simple yes or no.