State lottery revenues fall

Revenue from California Lottery games declined 7.4% to $3.31 billion last fiscal year, meaning less money for state schools, according to a state report released Wednesday.

Lottery money for education dropped about $80 million to $1.2 billion last year, although lottery officials note that it was the seventh year in a row that lottery funding to education topped $1 billion.

“The decrease in sales is mostly attributable to Lotto game sales,” the lottery’s annual report said. “Generally, jackpots were won at lower levels in the 2006/2007 fiscal year, and sales are usually lower for smaller jackpots.”

Officials have adopted four major initiatives aimed at improving the lottery’s performance: focusing more on long-range planning, improving the brand image, shifting the jackpot policies and modernizing operations.

The state Lottery Commission on Wednesday approved new games, including a game called the Daily 4, said California Lottery Director Joan Borucki.

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-- Patrick McGreevy