For Immediate Release:                                    Contact:  Communications Office

June 16, 2014                                                                    (518) 388-3415

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SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The New York Lottery today announced the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to the Lottery by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report for fiscal year 2012-2013. It is the eighth consecutive year the New York Lottery has received the award from the GFOA.

The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government agency and its management.

The comprehensive annual financial report has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story.

Upon acceptance of the Certificate of Achievement, Acting Director, Division of the Lottery, Gardner Gurney said, “The New York Lottery is extremely pleased to have achieved this recognition for excellence in financial reporting for the eighth year in a row. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Gaming Commission’s Financial Management team, and I want to thank the GFOA for recognizing their efforts.”

[Certificate of Achievement attached.]

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.17 billion in fiscal year 2013-2014 to help support education in New York State.  The Lottery’s contribution represents 15 percent of total state education aid to local school districts. 

New York Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education.  It takes into account both a school district’s size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of Lottery school funding.

About the New York State Gaming Commission

 The New York State Gaming Commission regulates all aspects of gaming and gambling activity in the state, including horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering, class III Indian gaming, video lottery terminal facilities at race tracks, the state lottery and charitable gaming.

About the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada

The Government Finance Officers Association is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 17,500 government finance professionals with offices in Chicago, IL, and Washington, D.C.