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Pennsylvania Wagers Powerball Will Boost Revenue7 January 2002HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania – Jan. 7, 2001 –As reported by the Associated Press; "…As its own lottery approaches its 30th anniversary, Pennsylvania faces competition from four neighboring states that offer either Powerball or The Big Game, another multi-state lottery. A projected deficit of more than $187 million by fiscal 2004 is also raising concerns about how to meet the escalating cost of senior-citizen programs that lottery revenues help subsidize. "So starting this summer, Pennsylvania will take a gamble on Powerball, joining 21 other states and the District of Columbia. Odds of winning the jackpot are about 80 million-to-1. "…Powerball began as a way for smaller states to compete with larger state lotteries by pooling their wagering dollars. It was introduced in 1992, replacing a less successful multi-state game, Lotto America, which was created in 1987. "Because Pennsylvania could generate sizable jackpots, the state initially never considered itself a Powerball candidate, lottery spokeswoman Sally Danyluk said. "Pennsylvania once held the record for the largest North American jackpot -- $115.5 million split among 14 winners of the now-defunct Super 7 game in 1989. A $363 million Big Game jackpot won by two players in May 2000 now tops the list of richest U.S. lottery prizes, followed by a $295.7 million Powerball jackpot won in July 1998. "…Even if Powerball is not the top-selling game in a given state, it still represents a significant chunk of total lottery revenues, according to officials in Powerball states. "The game generated $49.4 million in West Virginia, accounting for 30 percent of that state's fiscal 2000 sales for instant and online games. Sales accounted for 29 percent of Iowa's lottery proceeds for fiscal 2001…" |