Lottery ticket sales on the rise during the pandemic

DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. — People are turning to lottery tickets for a little bit of luck in 2020.

Several reports say that lottery ticket sales are now starting to trickle up in many states.

Some lottery retailers seem to be a little luckier than others.

According to the Florida Lottery, a Shell gas station on Edgewood Avenue could be the luckiest gas station in Duval County, because when it comes to the top selling lottery locations ---it is number one.

During the 2019-2020 fiscal year, its total net sales in lottery tickets soared over $4 million.

STORY: Jacksonville convenience store known as the luckiest lottery store in town

Our sister station in Memphis did a little deeper digging. They found that anxiety about COVID-19 caused people to buy more alcohol, tobacco and even play the lottery.

Lottery sales were up from the Tennessee Department of Revenue. Action News Jax has contacted Florida’s Department of Revenue and are waiting to hear back.

Across the country, a rise in sales happened about the same time as when states and local governments began closing non-essential businesses.

Here are the top 10 Florida lottery retailers in Duval County based on fiscal year 2019-2020 ticket sales:

• Edgewood Shell: 2309 Edgewood Avenue West
• Grand Central Station: 7695 Merrill Road
• Day N Nite Food Store: 9317 Lem Turner Road
• Publix #0128: 9518 Argyle Forest Boulevard
• Publix #1177: 7117 Merrill Road
• Publix #1176: 2875 University Boulevard West
• Publix #0178: 13170 Atlantic Boulevard Suite #29
• Publix #644: 12620-12 Beach Boulevard
• Publix #0884: 4320 Deerwood Lake Parkway
• Publix #1037: 7749 Normandy Boulevard

Trying your luck during the pandemic

Cox Media Group