British Company Ready To Take Over Management Of Pennsylvania Lottery

By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - Democrats in the state legislature are fuming at word that the Corbett administration now plans to award a contract to a British firm to take over management of the Pennsylvania Lottery.

Word that the contract to manage the Lottery had been awarded to Camelot Global Services came not via a press release or news conference but through an e-mail sent to Lottery employees. Within minutes, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa of Allegheny County held a teleconference with reporters, blistering the Corbett administration for a lack of transparency in a process the he says shut lawmakers out.

"We think that it's a significant slap in the face to the legislature when the governor does this process over the course of the five or six weeks that the members of the Senate and the House are not in session."

The move also comes just days before a Senate hearing is to be held on privatizing Lottery management. Also among those expressing concerns about the contract is the state treasurer, who says he might withhold payments to Camelot if he deems necessary.