Ark. lottery means losses for neighboring states

Associated Press - August 3, 2008 8:35 PM ET LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Texas lottery coffers could lose money if Arkansas voters approve a proposed constitutional amendment to allow a state lottery. Retailers in border cities in Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas ring up some of their state's best sales for lotteries. An Arkansas lottery, if approved in November, could cut into those sales into the millions of dollars. Oklahoma's lottery expects to lose $10 million to $12 million in ticket sales a year if Arkansas does its own lottery. The Missouri Lottery estimates it would lose $25 million to $30 million in ticket sales the first year of an Arkansas lottery. Texarkana, Texas, has the No. 1 lottery retailer in Texas, just off Interstate 30 - the Stateline Citgo. In 2007, Stateline Citgo sold $3.625 million in lottery tickets.... [read full story]