• As recommended in our 2002 report, the Legislature amended the law to increase prize payouts for scratch-off games in order to maximize transfers to education.  The Florida Lottery launched new scratch-off games using this flexibility, resulting in an additional $27 million transferred to the Education Enhancement Trust Fund in 2002-03.  The Legislature also increased the bond requirement for filing bid protests, and the Lottery hired a consultant to review its procurement procedures, which contributed to the successful letting of the Florida Lottery’s latest on-line vendor contract.  The 2003 Legislature reduced the Florida Lottery appropriation by $1.6 million for 2003-04, based on our estimates of annual savings from centralizing prize redemption functions. 
• The Florida Lottery implemented our recommendations to develop a long-term plan for revenue growth and enhance the existing on-line games.  The Florida Lottery is also in the process of implementing our recommendations to outsource field support operations, reduce the amount of leased office space, and is conducting a pilot study on centralizing prize redemption functions.

What were our earlier findings?

Report No. 02-11 Justification Review: Sale of Lottery Products Program, Department of the Lottery, published in  February 2002.

Which Government Program Summaries contain related information?

Department of Lottery

What other OPPAGA-related materials are available?

• Report No. 13-02 Lottery Revenue Has Increased Over the Past Year; Options Remain to Enhance Transfers,published in January 2013.
• Report No. 12-05 Recovery Expected in Lottery Revenue; Options Remain to Enhance Transfers,published in February 2012.
• Report No. 11-12 Lottery Profits Decline; Options Available to Enhance Transfers to Education,published in March 2011.
• Report No. 10-17 Lottery Jackpots, Retailer Density, and Advertising Drive Transfers to Education,published in January 2010.
• Report No. 10-16 Lottery Profits Flat; Increasing Retailer Outlets Is Critical to Increasing Sales,published in January 2010.
• Report No. 09-14 Lottery Profits Are Slowing with Economic Downturn; Advertising Services and Retailer Commission Rates Need to Be Addressed, published in March 2009
• Report No. 08-19 Lottery Profits Continue to Increase; Options Available to Enhance Transfers to Education, published in April 2008.
• Report No. 07-09 Lottery Scratch-Off Sales Increase; Options Available to Enhance Transfers to Education, published in February 2007.
• Report No. 06-04 Florida’s Lottery Responding to Revenue, Efficiency, and Minority Retailer Challenges, published in January 2006.
• Report No. 04-80 OPPAGA Report: Lottery Faces Challenges Meeting Future Revenue Demands, Continues Work to Improve Efficiency, published in December 2004.
• Report No. 03-56 Justification Review: Additional Steps Could Be Taken to Aid Pari-Mutuel Wagering Industry and/or Cut Regulatory Cost, published in October 2003.
• Report No. 12134  Performance Audit of the Selection of Instant Ticket Retailers Program Administered by the Department of the Lottery, published on June 24, 1993.
• Report No. 12133  Performance Audit of the Selection of On-Line Retailers Administered by the Department of the Lottery, published on June 23, 1993.
• Report No. 11933 Performance Audit of the Personnel Program Administered by the Department of Lottery, published on August 12, 1992.

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by telephone (850/488-0021), by FAX (850/487-9213), in person, or by mail (OPPAGA Report Production, Claude Pepper Building, Room 312, 111 W. Madison St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475).
e-mail address: oppaga@oppaga.fl.gov