Buddy Roogow has been the director of the Maryland Lottery since 1996. During the week the lottery marked its 35th anniversary, Roogow spoke with The Examiner about the lottery and its effect on Maryland?s economy.
Are you seeing any decrease in sales during this economic downturn?
The lottery?s having its best year ever ? this will be the 11th straight year in a row for record sales. Our sales increase, which is approaching $1.7 billion this year, as well as our revenue increase, which will be well over $500 million to the state, is in light of a difficult economy.
We?ve done some of the right things over the years to expand the lottery even in difficult times. We?ve expanded our monitor games. We have Keno and Racetracks, and now we?re in the process of adding Maryland Hold?Em, which is a Texas Hold?Em style monitor game. Scratch-off sales are up about 22 percent.
Our traditional numbers games like Pick 3 and Pick 4 are down, but I don?t know why that is.
What effect could slots have on lottery sales?
If the referendum passes, we?re going to implement slots as soon as possible after that. The lottery will be given the charge of overseeing the program. I envision, the way it?s been set up in Maryland, it will have no negative impact whatsoever. The reason I say that is because in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York and Rhode Island all have implemented slots, and there?s been no negative impact on the lottery. It can even be a positive, because the lottery could be available in the same locations as slots.
What?s your favorite part of the job?
It?s got to be giving the check to these people, watching when they come in and they?ve won and giving them the money that?s going to change their lives. Most of the folks who have won a lot of money have handled it very maturely. I?ve given away hundreds of millions of dollars, and I?ve got to admit, I get a littleenvious sometimes.
It?s also meeting the goals that are set for us by the governor and the legislation. I like to look at it as a win-win. The player has a chance to win … and if the player doesn?t win, the state wins.
Where does the money go?
The Maryland Lottery totaled $1.577 billion in sales in fiscal 2007. The following is the breakdown of how those sales are divided:
$919.2 million in prizes to players (58.3 percent)
$494.1 million to state-funded programs (31.3 percent)
$112.2 million to retailers for selling, cashing tickets (7.1 percent)
$51.8 million in operational expenses (3.3 percent)
Source: Maryland Lottery
