Arkansas' Lottery Director Talks about Challenges

Arkansas' new Lottery Director has been in town for about a week and hasn't stopped working.

Friday he gives his progress report to the Lottery Commission.

“Everything is a challenge. Today is a challenge about getting pencils and pens and computers and all the things that people take for granted. Those are challenges right now,” said Ernie Passailaigue, Arkansas’ Lottery Director.

The former South Carolina Lottery Director says there’s a big difference between running an existing lottery and starting one up.
Passailaigue says his top priority right now is getting gaming contracts, and then everything else should fall into place.

“The number one priority for us is to generate net profit for education. To make sure that the young people of Arkansas have opportunities to educate and better themselves in life because of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery.”

The lottery will start off with scratch off tickets. It's the only instant win feature in the lottery. For every four tickets sold there will be one winner.