HARRISBURG, PA - When Pennsylvania legalized slots casino seven years ago, many thought it spelled the end for the Pennsylvania Lottery ?" a prediction that has failed to materialize. The state??s lottery is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary this Friday, the Republican Herald reports.
Indeed, the lottery is experiencing one of its most successful years to date and is setting a ticket sales record. For fiscal year 2010 to 2011, lottery ticket sales totaled $3.2 billion, an achievement that lottery officials attribute to an increase in retail ticket outlets, with many Rite-Aid drug stores and Wawa convenience stores selling tickets.
"As businesses across Pennsylvania started to grow again last year following the challenges of the recession, the Pennsylvania Lottery succeeded in expanding its retailer base by more than 500 locations last year," said Drew Svitko, interim executive lottery director.
Pennsylvania created its lottery on August 26, 1971, the same year when it introduced state income tax. Both were implemented to address a shrinking revenue base. The first 50-cent tickets were sold in March 1972 and more than $57 million in proceeds was generated by the end of the first fiscal year.