Gregg Edgar, Executive Director, Arizona Lottery
“Arizona has been evaluating the viability of the $1 and $2 lines for a number of years. Recently, we reduced $1 instant facings down to a single game at any given time. The current inflation struggle will certainly exacerbate our position on those lines, especially since the cost of producing and distributing printed tickets only has the potential to go up. Our focus has been to look at the use of the Fast Play line to support the $1 customer base and move the lower-price players into that space, which hopefully will encourage more play of other lines.
Our contracts for draw-based games have fixed pricing for a longer duration than the standard scratch products. Additionally, withdraw or Fast Play games, we are not limited from a facing perspective as we are with Scratchers products. So in particular the Fast Play products could be more viable if production costs rise and inflation continues to spike.
I think we have to be responsive to the conditions our players are facing. Whether looking at ways we can add value into our product lines or partnerships, we can bring, for example, partnering with gas retailers to offer value on their gas purchase or looking at prizes we can offer through our digital channels to bring relief. But at our core we have to stay focused on delivering an entertaining experience for our players that gives a little relief to everyday struggles. People dream in good times and bad times, our dream is to serve our beneficiaries while delivering a little bit of escapism to our players.”