California IN BRIEF : SACRAMENTO : More Prize Money Sought for Lottery

Lottery Director Sharon Sharp will propose changing regulations to allow more prize money for the games of chance. Sharp said she wants to increase the ceiling on the amount of ticket revenues that can be devoted to prizes from 50% to 52% or 53% and, if the Legislature approves, use the increase for instant or Scratcher games and not computer-operated games such as Lotto and Little Lotto. The law requires that at least 34% of sales be used for education and no more than 16% go to operating expenses. Sharp said she has not decided where she will recommend that the money come from. She acknowledged that suggesting a cut in education’s share would create political problems.