PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER EDITORIAL: … The [Asbury Park] Press’ review found that over the past five years, 10 of the New Jersey Lottery’s 20 most frequent winners, and five of the top six, were licensed lottery retailers or their relatives. This charmed group collected a total of more than 800 prizes worth nearly $1.8 million during that period…
Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, state officials announced last week that lottery revenues have fallen by nearly a quarter over last fiscal year, presaging more bad karma for an incoming administration already facing a multibillion-dollar deficit. New Jersey’s lottery revenues are also off in spite of efforts to increase them through private management…
The risk of cheating isn’t lotteries’ only vulnerability. Pennsylvania’s outgoing budget secretary has warned of a 23 percent drop in revenues from some games in the first half of the fiscal year, blaming a lack of big jackpots that draw more players. In an attempt to boost revenues, the legislature this year passed a measure to increase sales of scratch-off tickets. Gov. Corbett’s bid to pump up profits further through private management and more gambling opportunities was blocked by Attorney General Kathleen Kane last year… (more)
