Idaho Lottery Looking at $10 Million Shortfall

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho lottery officials are bracing for a $10 million shortfall in ticket sales this year, due to large national and statewide drops in both Powerball and MegaMillions jackpot earnings.

State Lottery Director Jeff Anderson told budget-setting lawmakers Friday that meeting his agency's goal of $220 million in sales looks potentially unattainable. Anderson said it's still possible that the agency will meet its goal if a large jackpot attracts more sales in the next few months.

Anderson also told the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee that the decline in sales was unrelated to the state's new instant horse racing games, which have garnered attention for closely resembling slot machines. As a result of the decline in ticket sales, officials have lowered projected sales for fiscal year 2016 by $4 million.