Lottery sales up, profits fall

Friday, Jan. 4, 2002 | 9:55 a.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio schools have received $12.5 million less than expected from the Ohio Lottery halfway through the 2002 fiscal year as lottery profits continued their downward slide, records show.

The lottery earned $296.9 million from July through December, down from $319 million from the same period a year ago and $348 million in 1999, according to records released Thursday by the Ohio Lottery Commission.

In fiscal 2001, lottery profits fell for the fourth straight year and sales dropped 10 percent despite the addition of a new game.

Officials had estimated that the lottery would earn $309.4 million through the first six months of this fiscal year.

Although profits were down, lottery sales were up slightly, from $947 million over the first six months of last year to $969 million this year.

Profits declined despite increased sales because the lottery was paying out more in prizes.

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