Eastern Wake County — Janice Jones of Mark’s Variety Pickup in Wendell said hard times mean more people at her store are playing the odds.

“Now, about 90 percent of the people who come in buy a (lottery) ticket,” she said. “Before, it was about half.”

According to state Education Lottery figures, there is an increase in lottery ticket sales by about 20 percent over last year. But lottery executive director Tom Shaheen said it’s higher payouts that are drawing in more contestants.

“Well, it’s kind of a double edged sword,” he said. “Before the crisis started, the payout was low. Then last summer the legislature gave us approval to put more prizes in the games.”

Shaheen said after the higher payouts went into effect, sales went up 60 percent in 2008 over the previous year.

Shaheen expects to finish the year with an increase of about 20 percent over the period before the payout got larger.

When people make money, the winnings usually go for a pay off, convenience workers said.

Jones said a customer told her he was using his $10,000 to pay bills when he won big back in February. His hours had been cut to 32 from 40, she said.

Roderick Robinson, of Wendell, said he was spending up to $40 a week on lottery tickets, more than he used to.

“You could use it for something else,” he said as he played a scratch off game. “But I’m trying to win that $700.” He said he needed the money to pay bills.

“Everybody’s trying to win so they won’t be broke,” said Liz Grant, the manager of Mack’s Texaco in Knightdale.

She said the gas and convenience store’s recent big winner of $10,000 told her he used the money to pay his son’s bills.

Lee Clark, the clerk at the Zebulon BP on Gannon Avenue, said people were still playing the lottery even though times were tough, though he hadn’t noticed a substantial increase in tickets recently.

“People are still spending their last dollar or two, trying to get rich,” he said.