Audit: Former lottery director violated state law

HELENA — An audit of the state lottery found its former director violated state law by extending one contract and changing another without the approval of the Montana Lottery Commission.

The Independent Record reports the audit was presented to the Legislative Audit Committee Thursday.

The audit also found the lottery spent twice as much as it was authorized to spend on lottery ticket vending machines and that it would not be hard for lottery employees to perpetuate and conceal errors or irregularities in prize payments.

Legislative Auditor Tori Hunthausen said as far as auditors could tell, the likelihood of any money being lost was small.

New lottery director Angela Wong says she has implemented some recommendations from the auditor's office, is working on others and will notify the lottery commission of all substantive changes.