State auditor orders audit at Ohio Lottery

CLEVELAND -- The state auditor has ordered a performance audit of the Ohio Lottery over worries about the uncertainties of casinos and Keno, but the lottery has balked at the idea.

Ohio Auditor Mary Taylor says the uncertain nature of gambling revenue creates an "environment of heightened risk."

She informed the lottery of the performance audit last week.

It is separate from annual checks of financial statements.   

The Plain Dealer reports that it will be the first such audit initiated by Taylor against the wishes of an agency not in financial trouble.   

Lottery Executive Director Kathleen Burke says she discussed such an audit with Taylor's staff.

But she felt advice on improving agency performance might be more useful if it came from a source with experience on gambling issues.