Massachusetts State Lottery sales have plummeted by $21 million in the last two weeks as Bay State residents have been grappling with the coronavirus, a stunning drop in state revenue that’s just one of the many new realities for the state government.
“Representative of the whole economy, Lottery revenues have decreased significantly over the last two weeks,” said Michael Sweeney, executive director of the state lottery.
Lottery sales totals went from a healthy $111.6 million during the first week of March to $88.7 million last week, according to Lottery officials, who can do little about the cratering sales amidst a nationwide health crisis.
Keno sales have taken the biggest hit, down 33% because the game is largely sold in bars and taverns across the state that are now shuttered. Instant ticket sales are down 15%.
The state’s 365 cities and towns benefit from the lottery sales, so they could feel the biggest wallop from the loss. There’s little that lottery officials can do, however, as the state seeks to slow the rapid spread of the coronavirus. State Treasurer Deb Goldberg, who oversees the lottery, has instead focused on new roles to help those impacted.
She has been working with state Comptroller Bill McNamara to ensure funding is available for necessary medical equipment like masks and ventilators.
“Cash Management in Treasury is working with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and the Comptroller’s office as well as vendors to expedite payments for much needed supplies,” said Goldberg spokeswoman Alethea Harney.
Nearly all of Goldberg’s 735 employees — including state lottery workers — are working remotely, said Harney.
Attorney General Maura Healey, meanwhile, filed an emergency regulation Friday prohibiting price gouging for in-demand products like hand sanitizer and face masks during the emergency. All of her 600 staffers are working remotely. She also appointed an internal virus response team that meets daily to help residents deal with coronavirus scammers, debt collection or other issues, said spokeswoman Emalie Gainey.
Secretary of State William Galvin has become a cheerleader for the online U.S. Census, encouraging wary residents to fill out their forms on the internet.
Not all of the Bay State’s top elected officials are needed on the front lines of the coronavirus battle, however.
State Auditor Suzanne Bump has simply gotten on with the business of her normally scheduled audits. Her entire staff is working remotely, said spokesman Michael Wessler.
“We have largely continued as normal, performing regular business operations, conducting meetings through telephone and video conference, and releasing audits,” said Wessler. “The biggest challenge we have faced is the state’s overloaded network creating connectivity problems.”
