(WTIC-AM) -- Meeting with state lawmakers today, Connecticut Lottery officials discussed changes they have made after a series of problems in recent years.
"The lottery did improve board bylaws, internal controls, and efforts to engage with our regulatros," said Connecticut Lottery CEO Greg Smith.
Afterwards, Democratic Public Safety Committee Co-chair Joe Verrengia said his comfort level with the lottery is now much higher.
"We have bigger and better things to talk about going forward," Verrengia said. "Like I-lottery, sports betting, I include the lottery in all those conversations."
But Republican Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano expressed reservations about allowing the lottery to get involved in sports betting.
"I would have grave concerns at this time about giving lottery sports betting," Fasano said. "They need to have a much better track record than what they have now, to earn my respect."
In recent years, the Connecticut Lottery was forced to re-do a botched drawing, had a security problem with a scratch card game, and gave a generous exit package to a former director which state auditors said was an effort to hide the loss of her occupational license.
Speaking at the meeting, state auditors described an attitude of ignoring state oversight, under former lotto CEO Anne Noble, that continued after she left.
