Auditor General releases audit report of the Rhode

 

Island Lottery financial statements for Fiscal 2021

 

STATE HOUSE – The Rhode Island Lottery paid $301.8 million to the State’s General Fund for the year ended June 30, 2021, representing the Lottery’s net income after payment of prize awards, commissions, and operating expenses.  The total amount transferred to the State increased $17.9 million over the previous fiscal year ended June 30, 2020.  While increased, the fiscal 2021 transfer to the State was less than amounts transferred in fiscal 2019 prior to the pandemic.

The Lottery’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021 and the Independent Auditor’s Report thereon are included in a report issued by Auditor General Dennis E. Hoyle and released today by the Joint Committee on Legislative Services.  The auditors concluded that the Lottery’s financial statements were fairly presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. 

The Lottery’s gross profit from gaming operations before operating expenses totaled $314.8 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.  Video lottery accounted for $209.2 million or 66.4% of total gross profit.Net video lottery revenue decreased by approximately 2.3% compared to the prior year.  On-line revenue increased by 16.4% and instant ticket revenue increased 19.5% over prior year amounts. The Lottery’s operating expenses totaled approximately $14.6 million for the year ended June 30, 2021.

Net revenue from table games totaled $79.5 million for the year ended June 30, 2021.  After commissions paid to the facilities and the towns, and related operating expenses, the State’s share of net revenue from table games amounted to $12.2 million. 

Sportsbook gross profit totaled $19.1 million, after commissions, payouts, and marketing expenses. Sportsbook revenue increased 76.3% in fiscal 2021 with the resumption of sporting events and more patrons using the mobile Sportsbook application.

The Lottery disclosed the continuing impacts on revenue due to the global pandemic and increasing competition from gaming activities in neighboring states.

  The audit report included the Independent Auditor’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and on Compliance and two management comments intended to enhance internal control or result in other operational efficiencies. 

The full report and a summary are available at the Auditor General’s website, oag.ri.gov.

 

Jury selection will continue tomorrow in Donald Trump's historic hush money trial. During the process, reports say the former President smiled at a group of potential jurors when the judge referred to him as "defendant." Trump is accused of falsifying business records to cover payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.        Anti-Israel protests took place on interstates, roads, and bridges in cities across the U.S. today. They converged on New York's Brooklyn Bridge and clashed with police. Meanwhile on the West Coast, they completely blocked southbound traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge.        "Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez is set to be sentenced today. Gutierrez faces 18 months in prison for negligence in loading the live ammo into Alec Baldwin's gun on set, causing the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Baldwin has also been charged with involuntary manslaughter in Hutchins' death, and is scheduled to head to trial in July.       It's crunch time for taxpayers and the IRS is making it easier for some last minute-filers ahead of tonight's deadline. The agency released an update for Direct File, its free tax filing program. The update allows taxpayers in a dozen states to import the previous year's information from the IRS in order to easily validate the current year's return.       Record labels have come to an agreement with the Screen Actors Guild on protections for artists from the use of AI. SAG-AFTRA announced Friday that the agreement with major labels follows protections the union and the Writers Guild of America reached with production studios last year after their respective strikes. They included landmark protections around using artificial intelligence as the evolving technology poses increasing threats to the creative workforce.        The Indiana Fever have selected Caitlin Clark with the number one pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. The former Iowa guard set numerous records during her career with the Hawkeyes. In her senior season, Clark became the all-time NCAA Division One men's and women's scoring leader.