Lottery Sales Drop by 25%

I was very interested in the quote by California Lottery Executive Director Chon Gutierrez stating that negative media coverage caused the downturn in sales (Part A, Aug. 17). Apparently lottery officials are not aware that the public is intelligent enough to realize the possibility of winning the top jackpot is remote if there are 49 numbers to choose from, and even more remote if there are 53 numbers. Negative media coverage did not enter into my decision to stop purchasing lottery tickets. I decided that the money spent each week could be put to better use.

Lottery officials may find that their assumption of a sales increase in the long run will not come true.

STEVEN A. FULLER

Torrance