Our Reel Ad of the Week is a new TV ad that blends humor with a lesson in economics. The New Hampshire Lottery has created a clever parody of the classic Saturday Night Live “Land Shark!” sketch. However, in this parody, the menacing figure isn’t a shark.
But a “Tax Shark.”
The hilarious spot features a woman who has just won $1 million in the Massachusetts lottery, only to be greeted by the notorious “Tax Shark” at her doorstep. The “Tax Shark” refers to the state taxes imposed on lottery winnings in Massachusetts, which can take up to nine percent of a winner’s earnings.
The New Hampshire Lottery humorously highlights the advantage of purchasing lottery tickets in tax-free New Hampshire rather than in Massachusetts, emphasizing that you get to keep more of your hard-earned winnings. Watch out and watch below:
REELated:
The ad cleverly connects recent tax policies in Massachusetts with consumer behavior, pointing out that many Massachusetts residents choose to move to New Hampshire to enjoy its tax-free environment. The Granite State has experienced population growth, in contrast to Massachusetts, which has seen a decline in its population.
The message is clear: the New Hampshire Lottery is capitalizing on Massachusetts’ tax policies to attract potential lottery players from its neighboring state. This ad underscores how government policy can have unintended consequences, influencing individual choices and economic behavior.
As Massachusetts continues to maintain its high-tax and heavily regulated public policies, New Hampshire’s retailers are poised to benefit from the influx of hopeful lottery winners seeking to escape the “Tax Shark.”
This humorous yet insightful advertisement sends a strong message to viewers while entertaining SNL fans and those interested in the economics of state taxation. The “Tax Shark” ad is a creative and engaging way to remind viewers about the real-world impacts of tax policies on consumer behavior.
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Colin Costello is the West Coast Editor of Reel 360. Contact him at colin@reel360.com or follow him on X at @colinthewriter1
