Will New York Lotto Sales Rise?

My wife and I have just turned off David Letterman's "Late Show" after watching the New York subway hero Wesley Autry being interviewed (Photo by Nick Brooks, 2 Jan 2007, Newsday).

He was explaining how last week he saved the guy who fell on the electrified tracks after having a fit. It was an astounding act of bravery, and Wes is a very modest hero.

At a news conference last Thursday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg bestowed a unique title on the 50 year-old construction worker, calling him "the hero of Harlem."

It's usual for lotto ticket sales to jump after a big news event. People feel lucky and want to capture the feeling.

So it will be interesting to see whether sales have risen in New York after this rescue.