LITTLE ROCK — The new director of the Arkansas Lottery says he will scour the agency's budget for savings while working to increase sales in an effort to exceed last year's money raised for scholarships.
Bishop Woosley, speaking at an introductory news conference five days after he was hired as director, reiterated his intention not to replace two vice presidents who each made about $225,000 a year under former director Ernie Passailaigue.
Woosley also said the agency will soon start using social media, including Twitter and Facebook, to advertise and will begin selling tickets at its claim centers in Jonesboro, Camden and Springdale.
"Hopefully that will offset some of the expenses of the claim centers," Woosley said of the latter move. "We don't expect it to totally offset, but we do expect it will help. And that's a start."
Woosley said he wouldn't want to close the claim centers because each has a lease for four more years and provides a service for players who may be a lengthy drive from Little Rock.
Woosley said he wants to exceed the $94.2 million raised for scholarships last fiscal year, adding that February has been good so far. Fueled in large part by a $325 million Powerball jackpot, the lottery this month posted its highest sales week ever, selling $13.8 million in tickets.
"That's pretty exciting and we hope the rest of February and March and April and May will continue along those lines," Woosley said.