AR Lottery Expects $116M in Scholarships

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The Arkansas Lottery Commission has approved its budget plan for the coming year and says it expects to have $116 million to devote to college scholarships.

The panel said at a meeting Wednesday it expects 2011 sales to total $479 million, with $302 million going out as prizes.

In five months of operation, the lottery has taken in $227 million, and it is projected to gross $241 million in its remaining seven months of its fiscal year.

The commission on Wednesday approved the summer launch of a new raffle game. Also, panel chairman Ray Thornton says he won't seek another term as chair.