NC lottery officials expect better numbers

RALEIGH (AP) — Lottery officials hope action by the Legislature will help make up for a shortfall in sales projections in the first full year.

The N.C. Education Lottery missed its original sales projections by 25 percent. Lawmakers this year gave the lottery the flexibility to raise the percentage of revenues going to prizes.

Officials said there was a perception that players don’t win enough money or often enough.

The lottery missed by 25 percent its original sales projections for its first full year ending in June and failed to meet expectations for the three months ending Sept. 30 by 7 percent.

Executive Director Tom Shaheen is optimistic that the games will attract more interest. He says two raffles with $1 million prizes this year have been very successful.

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