Women keen lotto players

Press, 25 January 1988, Page 9

Women keen lotto players

PA Wellington Homemakers and clerical workers are the biggest buyers of lotto tickets, according to a Heylen survey.

■ The Lotteries Commission marketing manager, Mr Phil Prosser, said the survey showed a fairly even spread of lotto players across occupational groups.

Homemakers were the keenest players and were over-represented, compared with their contribution to the total population. Twenty-six per cent of lotto players were homemakers, who made up only 19 per cent of the adult population.

Clerical workers were also over-represented, making up 18 per cent of the population but 23 per cent of lotto players. Next largest group playing lotto were production workers, craftsmen,

tradesmen, labourers and semi-skilled workers.

They made up 20 per cent of the population, and 17 per cent of lotto players. Retired people, 15 per cent of players, made up 14 per cent of the population.

Professionals were the fifth largest buyers of lotto tickets, at 14 per cent, but they were under represented, forming 17 per cent of the population. Students made up 5 per cent of players while comprising 9 per cent of the population.

Mr Prosser said the figures debunked the myth that lotto > was played mainly by the poor.

Survey figures showed 68 per cent of the adult population had played the game since its introduction in July, -and 60 per cent played in December.