The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery's revenue and net proceeds have dropped for the second straight year.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports this year's revenue slipped by $29.5 million to $411 million. The amount raised for college scholarships declined by almost $9 million. The lottery projects net proceeds will continue to drop.
Bishop Woosley, director of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, said Tuesday the revenue dip can be attributed to drops in sales of scratch-off and Powerball tickets.
He hopes changing a state law to allow people to purchase lottery tickets with debit cards will boost ticket sales and proceeds for college scholarships.
Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarships made possible by the lottery have helped more than 30,000 students in the past four years
