Eleven months into the fiscal year, the West Virginia Lottery has generated more than billion in revenue. After commission pay-outs, vendor fees and costs and other expenses, the lottery posted a gross profit in May of nearly .5 million, a 4 percent increase over last year, resulting in a year-to-date gross profit of 8 million, up from 0 million through 11 months last year, according to Lottery Commission figures.
However, while total lottery revenue going into the final month of the fiscal year exceeds $1 billion, that’s nearly $48 million less than figures from the same time last year. Still, lottery profits have exceeded last year’s totals. And despite the revenue deceases–about $100 million annually since 2012— he lottery has brought in more than $1 billion each of the last 13 years.
On the other hand, the state’s racetracks, casinos and video lottery houses earned more than they did in June 2015 versus June 2014, but still generated less money than in the past. The state’s various lottery revenues, including ticket sales and video, table and online games, generated $101.8 million last month, about $4.4 million less than May 2014.
Racetrack and limited video lottery games continue to bring in the most money each month, netting the state $51 million and $31 million, respectively, in May. Limited video lottery income was up in May compared to last year, bringing in about $1 million. However, in May racetrack video lottery brought in $53 million, less than the previous year.
Instant and online games brought in a combined $14.6 million in May, about the same amount of revenue generated last year. Table games and historic resorts rounded out lottery revenues with $3.9 million and $620,000, respectively.
Lottery revenue is used to fund education and tourism projects across the state.
Lottery officials also declared charitable organizations’ “casino night” fundraisers are illegal, although the lottery has no prosecutorial authority in these situations and Lottery Director John Musgrave said county prosecutors are not interested in pursuing charges against members of local charitable organizations. “We think it’s a major violation,” he said.
Commission member David McCormick said, “It’s pretty prevalent in my neck of the woods. It’s not fair to the casinos. If they have these casino nights in Morgantown and Clarksburg, that’s probably somebody not going to Wheeling to gamble.”
McCormick said some publicity would help stop the casino nights. “It’s just that they don’t know. You just need to get the word out that you can’t do this,” he said. Under state law, possession of roulette wheels, blackjack tables, craps tables, slot machines and other gaming devices that are not licensed by the lottery is a felony, punishable by up to three years in prison and up to $100,000 in fines.
Musgrave said, “It is illegal, and we want to stop it, but we have to figure out how. He noted the Lottery Commission may ask the legislature to give it the authority to crack down on the events.
