CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SACRAMENTO : Lottery Disputes Development Losses

The state lottery said it may recover more than $780,000 lost in developing a lotto game that was killed by a legal dispute which erupted shortly before the game began. Lottery spokeswoman Joanne McNabb said it was inaccurate that the game, Pronto, “cost untold millions” when officials continued development “despite repeated warnings that the game was illegal,” as reported by the Sacramento Union. Managing editor Ken Harvey said the newspaper “stands by the story as it was printed.” The cost of development listed in 1989 state records, provided by McNabb, was $782,810, which she said may be recouped if Pronto is sold to any of three interested lotteries that operate under other gaming laws--Arizona, Illinois or British Columbia.