ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 20, 1996 TAG: 9602200060
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: Associated Press
Sales for on-line games of the Virginia Lottery reached an all-time low Sunday when a single $1 ticket was sold. That ticket was a test of the software that generates computer picks and records players' picks, a Lottery spokeswoman said.
The computer, including more than 3,600 terminals where players buy tickets, was out of order all day as technicians repaired a problem with the system - but it was fixed by Monday, Paula Otto said.
Only scratch-off tickets were available Sunday, Otto said. Test tickets were tried for Pick 3, Pick 4, Cash 5 and Lotto games, but official records will show only $1 in proceeds for the day.
``In loading a new software program onto our mainframe computer, which operates all the terminals, it created a glitch,'' Otto said.
The problem began Sunday morning as the lottery attempted to load a new game. The glitch prevented the system from coming back up as usual at 8 a.m.
The lottery usually shuts off its computer between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. to perform routine maintenance, run reports and make changes, Otto said. The process takes longer on Sundays.
In suburban Richmond, some people went store-hopping in an attempt to get their numbers.
``A few people came in. They were going from store to store trying to buy tickets,'' said Pat Johnson, manager of a Fas Mart in Mechanicsville. Clerks had to explain that the entire system was down, she said.
But because no drawings are held Sunday, lottery officials said they expect to lose few sales from the shutdown.
``Hopefully, they'll go back and purchase those tickets for drawings later in the week,'' Otto said.
Sundays are traditionally slow, particularly after a jackpot has been won. In Saturday's Lotto drawing, one ticket matched six numbers and is worth $5.1 million.
Otto said the lottery sells an average of $1 million to $2 million worth of tickets daily, with heavier sales Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It usually sells $100,000 to $200,000 worth on Sundays, she said.
LENGTH: Short : 48 linesby CNB