Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 19, 1990 TAG: 9006190537
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-3 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Thorson gave a rosy report to House Appropriations Committee members Monday after they heard state Finance Secretary Paul W. Timmreck describe a $100 million budget shortfall that was revealed by Gov. Douglas Wilder last week.
Thorson said the lottery should take in $455 million for the fiscal year that ends June 30 and return $150 million to the state.
In its first fiscal year that ended June 30, 1989, the lottery had sales of $409 million and returned $140 million to the state's general fund.
Without the "sophomore slump" that often strikes lotteries in their second year after the novelty wears off, about $545 million in tickets would have been sold, Thorson estimated.
Still, he said, the Virginia lottery did better in per-capita sales in its second year than five other neighboring or similar-sized states did in their sophomore years.
Thorson said he expects ticket sales will reach $560 million in the fiscal year that starts July 1 and will bring about $178 million to state coffers.
Lottery revenues usually increase steadily after the second year as the pool of players grows, he said.
"From that point on it's on the upsurge all the way," he said. "More people are realizing how much fun it is to play."
Thorson said the state may add at least one new feature to its lottery games in the coming year. The options include a subscription service to allow residents to play by mail, a Pick 4 game or expansion of the Lotto game to twice-weekly drawings.
by CNB