Slots denting lottery in Pennsylvania

2007-11-30 14:37:29

The video slots industry in Pennsylvania is taking money away from West Virginia Lottery, it has been reported.

Lottery revenues are down by 3.6 percent on last year, according to the Charleston Gazette, which equates to $18.6 million.

The figures relate to the first four months of the 2007-08 budget year.

However, the effect of the new slots businesses has not been as severe as some were expecting.

Lottery director John Musgrave said: "We're down from last year, but that was expected."

He added that they anticipated things to be much worse.

Other parts of the lottery industry were affected as well, with video lottery revenues from racetracks seeing their revenue drop by 7.3 percent - a fall of $24.6 million.

Slots were first legalized in Pennsylvania in 2004 and there are several standalone slots parlors now operating in the area, including Foxwoods Casino in Philadelphia.