The Mega Millions ticket price increase to $5 has some Long Islanders worried

When the price of Mega Millions tickets doubled from $1 to $2 in 2017, Gary Dhindsa, owner of One Stop Cards And Convenience in Farmingdale, said his business shrunk.

“In the beginning, when it started… it went really well,” he said. “People used to play in a group, $200, $100.”

Now the people who come in are playing around $20 or $40 at most, Dhindsa said. But next year, he fears, no one will play.

Dhindsa is one of many Long Islanders and business owners who were concerned Tuesday after Mega Millions announced it would increase its prizes again from $2 to $5, which would take effect in April 2025.

Lottery director Gweneth Dean said in a statement that there will be “improvements” to the game from the time the prize increase comes into effect, including “bigger prizes at all levels, improved odds of winning and more chances to win life-changing money.”

But Dhindsa said that after owning his grocery store for about 12 years, he began to see a “slow” decline in Mega Millions customers.

“I don't think they will play because it is an increase of almost 300% and not 5 or 10%,” he said. “If it goes from $2 to $5, forget everything.”

Raj Patel, owner of Dix Hills Lotto, said a large portion of his winnings come from lottery tickets.

“I'm always busy,” Patel said after serving at least six lottery players during a lunch rush Tuesday afternoon. “Many customers find this ridiculous,” he said, referring to the price increase.

Customer Marty Gering of Huntington said he wasn't surprised given the general price increases these days.

“New York never runs out of ways to make more money. Never,” said Gering, who bought a Mega Millions lottery ticket from Dix ​​Hills Lotto. “Soon they will tax the air we breathe.”

According to the state lottery, operations ended the 2023-24 fiscal year with total revenue of $10.6 billion, donating $3.8 billion to public schools and school districts across the state.

Of this, Powerball accounted for $567,677,918 in sales, resulting in $234,978,002 in educational aid, while Mega Millions accounted for $441,182,494 in sales, resulting in $182,617,956 brought educational aid to state public schools.

Suffolk school districts received $273,403,892.54, while Nassau schools received $220,199,716.54. According to the state, schools in New York City received $1,193,465,995.71.

According to the state, of the $8.2 billion generated by so-called “traditional lottery games” in the 2023-24 fiscal year, 58.8% – or more than $4.9 billion – went to winnings payouts, while $2.7 billion – or 32.6% – in profit payouts went to education aid. The remainder came from a range of operating costs, including commissions paid to retailers who sold winning tickets.

For now, New Yorkers have time to decide whether the price increase is worth it. Gering said he is still buying Powerball, a $2 ticket that is not expected to increase in price.

But will he continue playing Mega Millions?

“Maybe,” he said.