Pennsylvania Lottery Turns 40
The Pennsylvania Lottery is the only lottery in the nation that designates all of its proceeds to help senior citizens. That’s what state officials are highlighting as they celebrate the Pennsylvania Lottery’s 40th anniversary. “Since then we’ve been able to generate $21.5-billion dollars to fund programs for our older Pennsylvanians, and that’s something we’re very proud of,” says lottery executive director Todd Rucci.
Some of the programs funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery include the Property Tax / Rent Rebate Program, PACE & PACENET and the 52 area agencies on aging. “It’s very important to Pennsylvanians because the lottery supports older Pennsylvanians,” says Secretary of Aging Brian Duke. He joined Todd Rucci to mark the anniversary at a Dauphin County senior center this week.
During recent appropriations hearings officials told state lawmakers the lottery’s new strategic plan seeks to broaden the player base, in part by better explaining where the proceeds go.
The new plan also means the retirement of ‘Gus,’ Pennsylvania’s 2nd most famous groundhog, and a longtime lottery spokes-animal. “The robotic nature of Gus… added about $140,000 dollars to the production costs of a commercial,” Revenue Secretary Dan Meuser explained to the House Appropriations Committee. “So we thought we’d save a little bit of money and put him out to pasture for a little while.”
The Legislative Budget & Finance Committee recently took a comprehensive look at the Pennsylvania Lottery. It noted a looming spike in the state’s senior citizen population compared to the modest growth that’s being projected for state lottery revenues.
