CLEVELAND – Ohio Lottery ticket sales increased 0.5% in October compared to the same month last year, but instant game sales continue to drop, Cleveland.com reports.

Overall sales reached $216.6 million, up slightly from September sales that hit $22.4 million. The increase was attributed to sales of the EZ Play game, which rose 59% ($7 million in sales, compared to last October’s $4.4 million).

The daily Pick 3 game was October’s top seller, generating $28.5 million, nearly 4% more than last year. The Powerball game sold $9.7 million (28% increase), while Mega Million sold $8.1 million (-3.4%).

Online sales reached $106.2 million, a 10.5% jump over the same month last year, but those sales were offset by a 7.6% drop in instant ticket sales.

Instant tickets accounted for 54% of the lottery's sales through October 2012 but only 50% of the year's sales through last month.

Lottery Director Dennis Berg blamed weaker than expected instant ticket sales on the proliferation of gaming options as well as the migration of shoppers to big-box retailers, which typically do not offer tickets.

The Ohio Lottery Commission is trying to increase instant ticket sales for the coming year. Last month, it approved a record $30 ticket that will go on sale January 16. The game will offer five $10 million prizes and 35 prizes of $1 million.