The Ohio lottery mega millions game has been in operation since 2002. In general, over the past ten years, the growth in annual sales revenue of the Ohio Lottery Mega Millions game from 2002 to 2010 has been phenomenal. More specifically, in 2002 when the game began selling in Ohio, the revenue from sales was only $16.5 million but has been as high as $223.4 million (2006) before settling down at the 2011 level of $165 million.

More interesting than that tidbit is the fact that even though there has been tremendous growth in sales revenue over that period of time, the Mega Millions sales revenue has not been consistent. For instance, from year 2002 to 2005 there was steady growth, but the next six years from 2005 to 2011, revenue fluctuated up and down and culminated in a tremendous drop in revenue from $215.8 million to the 2011 level of $165 million. Some may blame outside factors such as the economy or uncertainty, but according to reports from the State of Ohio, the real culprit is the Ohio Lottery Powerball.

The changes in revenues were a clear sign that Mega Millions players' sentiment was moving away from the game. The same data showed that Ohio players have shifted enthusiasm once before. For instance, in 2006 when the Ohio Lottery changed its Super Lotto Plus game to Lot O' Play in October of 2005, an enormous decrease in Super lotto Plus/Lot O' Play game revenue occurred in the 2006 fiscal year. In fact, the revenue decreased two consecutive years afterwards and the Super Lotto Plus/Lot O' Play game had to be retired by the Ohio Lottery. At the same time of Super Lotto Plus's demise, the Ohio Lottery Mega Millions game revenue increased by $47 million.

Could, the Ohio Lottery Mega Millions game get a dose of its own medicine? There are two years in the data that evidence a similar sentiment by players that was recognized in 2006. The years to look at closely are 2010 and 2011. In 2010, the Powerball was introduced and in 2011, there was a massive increase in Powerball revenue. When Powerball was introduced in 2010, a small amount of sales revenue was earned by the game but the Ohio lottery Mega Millions game seen no major negative changes in sales revenue. However, in 2011 when Powerball sales revenue jumped 323% from $23.6 million to $76.4 million the Ohio Lottery Mega Millions game decreased by 23.5% from $215.8 million to $165 million.

In summary, the Ohio Lottery Mega Millions game is losing revenue at an alarming rate due to an increased interest in the introduction of Powerball. There was no denying this reason once the data was analyzed. In short, the analysis showed that the decrease from year 2010 to 2011 is in direct relation to the large increase in Powerball revenue. It could also be shown from the data that there was an increase in instant game ticket revenue every year there was a decline in Mega millions revenue. It may not just be Powerball that eliminates the Ohio Lottery Mega Millions game; it may as well be instant game tickets. Either way, it is safe to say that if Ohioans do not like the game, they more than likely will let you know it!