Ga. Lottery profits continue

ATLANTA - The Georgia Lottery posted a 12th consecutive year of profit growth last year, despite a slight decrease in ticket sales.

Spokeswoman Tandi Reddick said Wednesday that the lottery rang up more than $3.6 billion in ticket sales for the fiscal year that ended June 30. That's down about $17 million from the previous year.

But the lottery also brought in $883.8 million in profits, up from $872 million in 2009. Reddick says that money was transferred to the state to be used for HOPE scholarships and prekindergarten program.

Reddick said the addition of Powerball in Georgia this year helped sales.

Even though there was an increase in profits, the HOPE scholarship program is having to dip into its reserves for the first time ever. The growth of the scholarship program has outpaced lottery sales in the last few years.