Who buys lottery tickets? Actually, everybody and anybody that you can imagine!
From the working class to the upper class, and everyone in between; civil servants of all professions, handymen and handywomen; lawyers, politicians— even royalty. These are the people who purchase lottery tickets.
Unless they are prohibited by law from purchasing a ticket, anyone – any occupation, any race, and income level – can take part in the lottery.
What Do the Numbers Say?
Statistically speaking, the lower the income level of a player, the more apt they are to purchase multiple tickets per draw. But, outside of statistics, this is not necessarily so in the real world.
A middle- or lower-income-level player may be limited as to the number of tickets they can purchase, while an upper- or higher-income-level player may be able to purchase a large number of tickets without batting an eyelid.
However, the number of tickets a player purchases usually is tied to their economic status.
Those from lower-class backgrounds generally purchase more lottery tickets per draw - or more draws - than players from upper-class backgrounds, with the intention that multiple tickets will give them a better chance of hitting the jackpot.
Low-income-level players may feel that they need the lottery winnings in order to improve their economic and financial stability, whereas high-income players would use the money to fund a pet project or diversify investment opportunities. All levels would more than likely use any grand-jackpot win to retire immediately.
But the economic level of players is not the only identifying factor when it comes to working out who plays the lottery.
Most lottery retailers can be found in variety and drug stores, shopping malls, and other busy areas servicing the majority of the population, which is low- and middle-income customers of all ages and races.
Higher-income customers don’t generally patronize these types of retail venues and would have to venture to a lottery retailer outside of their normal shopping haunts to buy tickets, say going to or coming from work. So, the location of lottery retailers is another consideration when determining why middle- and lower-income people end up being the majority of lottery players.
How Does the Future Look?
Today’s technological lifestyle means that lottery tickets can now be purchased online, and that convenience is generally taken advantage of by younger customers who are just starting out and earning their own incomes—those who were born and raised in today’s digital age.
Most are influenced by their parents’ purchase history, and many end up buying tickets in the same manner as their parents, playing the same games and buying the same amount of tickets, but doing it over the internet. As these young people age, they are more than likely to continue buying tickets as a habit—even if they’ve already obtained a wealthy and luxurious lifestyle.
Older players, seniors and beyond, will continue to buy lottery tickets if their income and mobility allow it. Even though they may be too old or too ill to enjoy the money, they can use it for the time they have left or arrange to have it added to their estate when they pass on.
The Lottery Doesn't Discriminate
So, you see that lottery players are not limited by income level, age, geographic location, or any other factor you might think would preclude someone from taking part.
Whether rich or poor, young or old, having parents that bought tickets or not, college graduates or not—the lottery does not discriminate when it comes to who is allowed to take part.