Kansas Lottery sales in the past fiscal year were below the previous year’s record, but still ranked the second highest in the game’s history.

“Considering that the Lottery lost nearly 50 retail locations across the state last year, most of which simply went out of business, we feel that we did well to experience only a slight decrease in sales from last year,” said Kansas Lottery Executive Director Ed Van Petten.

For the fiscal year from July 1, 2007, to June 30, lottery ticket sales reached nearly $237 million. For the year, from July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007, ticket sales were nearly $240 million.

The Kansas Lottery was approved by voters in 1986 and started the next year.