An analysis group has looked over data on the Washington Lottery and found that the sales at Port Orchard are outstanding. Stores in the area have sold the most lottery tickets per resident per year than any other city in the State. The total per resident is almost $750. Close behind Port Orchard were Gig Harbor with $460 per person, Shelton $360 per person, Stanwood $350 per person and Sequim $330 per person.

While these cities are close together, Port Orchard has managed almost $300 lead on the second place city. Officials have no idea why sales are so much higher in Port Orchard. The Chamber of Commerce President, Dennis Lei, was blown away, stating “it’s a darn good question” why sales are so high.

Some of the larger cities had much lower numbers per person, some going as low as ten dollars spent per person. Lottery officials have stated that they need to review the data analysis before commenting on the findings.

Lei believes that disposable income and large population in Port Orchard are outside the technical city limits and the research done was based on street addresses reported in lottery records, along with recent population estimates from the State Office of Financial Management.

8,400 residents live inside Port Orchard, while 5,000 live outside in a small part of the city. But even adding the other residents, Port Orchard would still be ahead of the second city, Gig Harbor. Whatever the reason for the rise in sales, Washington State will not be complaining. In 2007, the state set a record in lottery sales and this year they are ahead of their projections. A new record could be set by the end of this year.


- 2008-08-26