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Kentucky Lottery's Future Uncertain

KENTUCKY – As reported by the (Louisville, Kentucky) Courier-Journal: "Even as they celebrated the 15th anniversary of the start-up of the Kentucky Lottery — and predicted a strong finish to the fiscal year — lottery officials acknowledged an uncertain future yesterday.

"That's due in large part to new competition from a neighbor. Tennessee, whose residents once were responsible for 12 percent to 15 percent of the Kentucky Lottery's sales, started its own lottery this year.

"Yesterday, Tennessee added the Powerball to its lineup.

"Kentucky Lottery spokesman Chip Polston said officials expect that when Tennessee offers a full range of games in two or three years, the loss in ticket sales in Kentucky may surpass $70 million a year.

"Even so, officials were upbeat during a press conference yesterday to tout the lottery's 15th anniversary, announcing that it has pumped more than $2 billion into the state treasury and about $4.6 billion in prize money to players since its start in April 1989.

"…The Kentucky Lottery has sold more than $7.8 billion in tickets, with about 60 percent, or $4.6 billion, returned to players in prizes…"

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