Mega Million

Mega Millions and the keno-like Quick Draw are down. Lotto, which in 2001 took in close to $500 million, took in just $164 million last year, a 20.1% drop from 2007, state figures show. Still, overall lottery sales totaled $7.8 billion - a 3.1% jump over 2007. "We're up slightly [overall]," New York Lottery spokeswoman Carolyn Hapeman said. "In this economy, that's the good news."

Mega Millions, which promises a minimum $12 million jackpot, saw its sales drop 2.8%, or $14.4 million, from the $508.5 million in 2007. "We're up slightly [overall]," New York Lottery spokeswoman Carolyn Hapeman said. "In this economy, that's the good news." Sales at eight video slot machine parlors located at race tracks around the state totaled just under $1 billion, a healthy 14.4% increase.

Hapeman said high gas prices likely made some players forgo trips to places like Atlantic City and instead gamble at video slot machine parlors in places like Yonkers. The gains by the video slot machine parlors may have impacted the more traditional games, but Hapeman also noted that there were far fewer mega jackpots last year to stir up bigger sales. "It's a jackpot-driven business," Hapeman said. "If there is a huge jackpot and if it captures the imagination, they will play."