NC lottery ticket sales feeling economy’s weight

RALEIGH — Ticket sales for the North Carolina lottery are doing well but feeling the effects of the bad economy.

Lottery executive director Tom Shaheen said Wednesday revenues from July through November are more than 34 percent higher compared to the same period a year ago. Shaheen said that’s because the prize distribution formula was improved last year.

But Shaheen told the lottery commission’s finance committee that November sales fell about 9 percent compared to October. He blames that on people less willing to buy tickets because of the poor economic conditions.

Right now, the lottery remains on target to generate more that $380 million for education this fiscal year. But Shaheen said he’ll consider new promotions after January to boost sales.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)