CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Lottery revenues are down $44 million through November compared to the revenue from a year ago.
The state Lottery Commission received the November financial report at its meeting Thursday in Charleston.
Last year at the time the Lottery had brought in $558.1 million for the first five months of the fiscal year but this year the revenue number has dropped to $514.1 million. November’s revenue was off the previous year’s mark in nearly all revenue categories.
Lottery officials believe out-of-state gambling competition has hurt the most with new casinos opening in Ohio and Maryland.
Racetrack Video Lottery has shown the most significant drop this fiscal year where revenues are down about $23 million.
The state budget heavily depends on lottery revenues.