California IN BRIEF : SACRAMENTO : New Lotto Game Shows Sales Hike

In its first month, Super Lotto--the premiere game in the overhaul of the state lottery designed to reverse a $500-million decline--boosted lotto sales 21% above the previous four weeks. Officials acknowledged, however, that some players are critical of the smaller prizes offered by Super Lotto, which replaced Lotto 6-53 last month. “We’re encouraged, but Super Lotto isn’t the whole solution. It’s the first piece of a whole new package of games and other changes,” said lottery spokeswoman Joanne NcNabb. While lotto sales increased, total sales of all lottery games slipped more than 11% during the same period, mid-December to mid-January, compared to the previous four weeks. McNabb said the overall decline was not worrisome. She attributed it to the decision to eliminate the Little Lotto game in the more recent period and brisk sales of scratch-off tickets in the earlier period.