The price of a National Lottery ticket was this week doubled to £2, with Lottery operator Camelot insisting they had no option but to do so after years of steadily declining sales.
Managing director of Camelot, Andy Duncan, believed the change would ‘re-energise Lotto’ with jackpots predicted to rise to £2.5million and £5million on Wednesday and Saturday respectively.
While players correctly matching three numbers will now be rewarded with £25 instead of £10
But what do Mancunians think of the change? Will they be put off playing? Will they still play? Did they ever play?
MM took to the streets of Piccadilly and asked: Will you still buy a National Lottery ticket after the price was increased to £2?
| Option | Results |
| Yes | 27% |
| No | 11% |
| Never bought one anyway | 62% |
Lawrence Kiernan, a 58-year-old bus inspector from Burnage, said: “It won’t stop me playing but it’ll make me play less, I’ll probably only play once a week now rather than twice.
“The most I’ve ever won is £50 but my ex-wife won £1 million so I missed out there, but my kids were treated.”
Stan Pritchard, 74, from Droylsden, said: “The price hasn’t put me off, I’ve played twice a-week since it started. I won £2,500 ten years ago and spent it on a holiday to Portugal.”
Fasid Ahmed, a 34-year-old Lebara Mobile promoter from Longsight, said: “I’ve been playing for three years and the most I’ve won is £4 but I’ll still keep playing.”
Sheila MacCalaugh, a 71-year-old retiree, said: “I think I’ll keep playing for now but one person from my family is going to stop.”
Her daughter Gill MacCalaugh, 47, added: “I’m undecided at the moment, I’ve considered stopping but I’ve been picking the same numbers every week since it started. So if I don’t play on Wednesday or Saturday they’re bound to come up.”
Michael Swindles, 61, from Macclesfield said: “It has put me off and I won’t be playing twice a week anymore. I’ll be checking it out this weekend but I will be playing less.”
Joe Wilkinson, a 24-year-old Co-Operative employee from Newton Heath, said: “I think it’s a bit of commitment now, it’s going to be £8 a month now (to play once a week) instead of £4 and I think people are conscious of it adding up.”
“I’ve played on a Wednesday and Saturday since it started but I’ll only be buying a ticket once a week from now on,” said Peter Cole, 55, from Gorton.
Kieron Wyer, a 19-year-old Threshers sales assistant, said: “I’m not that interested in it really, most people are unlucky with it anyway.”
While Ifran Patel, a 32-year old from Bolton, who works at Aleef News Piccadilly, said: “There will be downturn (in sales). A lot of people buy five tickets for £5 on a Wednesday and Saturday but now it’s going to be £10 for five tickets and people are not going to play.”
Image courtesy of Pittaya Sroilong via Flickr, with thanks.
