The Pennsylvania Lottery is having a good year so far.
“We’re on track for an all-time sales record,” Executive Director Drew Svitko said. “We’re about $50 million ahead of the same point last fiscal year. We’re expecting to end the year $20 million above estimate.”
But, Svitko says the lottery does have concerns about unregulated “games of skill” gambling machines, which he believes are hurting the lottery’s ability to expand its monitor games.
“They’re having a direct sales effect, particularly on scratch-offs,” he said.
Officials estimate a roughly $95 million per year loss in scratch-off sales due to the presence of those machines.
The Department of Revenue believes “games of skill” are not legal. The department is waiting for a ruling in the courts on the matter.