CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – Reports show West Virginia lottery revenue has declined from this time last year.
Multiple news sources report revenue for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, totals to $969 million, about $43.4 million less than the previous year. The West Virginia Lottery Commission says total revenues equaled $1.01 billion at the same point in 2014. In April, lottery revenue was at $97.4 million, about $3.9 million less than April 2014.
The lottery commission says declining revenues are primarily because of competition from casinos in neighboring Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland. If revenue hits $1 billion, which it has done for the past 13 years, this will be the longest it has taken to reach the milestone in 12 years.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.
