Study of the relationship between increasing average unit price of BIG as the sports lottery and household consumption

In Japan, public sports institutions sell BIG, a type of sports lottery, to promote sports activities. Consumers purchase these tickets for both monetary incentives and entertainment. The monetary investment made by consumers in BIG is declining and depends on their spending abilities and consumption habits. This study employs a time-series analysis to examine the relationship between income or consumption and payments made per BIG ticket. It focuses on the relationship between payments and the economic situation. The findings indicate that individuals with lower incomes allocate higher payments for BIG tickets. Furthermore, an increase in entertainment consumption is correlated with higher BIG payments. This study’s results clarify the previously unexplored relationship between Japanese sports lotteries and economic conditions and offer implications for lottery policymakers. The study highlights the necessity of strategies that address profit-making in economically disadvantaged situations.