Lottery sees profit down to half

The Romanian Lottery last year saw a gross profit worth 29m euros, (105m RON), about half the total in 2004, although, it maintained a comparable turnover. The Romanian Lottery, one of the most profitable companies on the market, posted a turnover worth over 194 million euros (over 700m RON) in 2005, according to data published in the Official Gazette. As a comparison in 2004, Compania Nationala Loteria Romana (The National Romanian Lottery) had posted a turnover worth 190m euros (771m RON) and a gross profit worth almost 54m euros (218m RON). The National Lottery has lately been at the heart of a scandal, which culminated with the chairman of the board of directors being dismissed and replaced by Liliana Ghervasuc, president of National Agency for Exports Control.