Without gambling money, the state would be unable to stay afloat at its current level.

The lottery recorded sales of $958 million during the first nine months of the fiscal year.

Deputy Lottery Director Virgil Helton says profits are up 27 percent.

Helton says the increase comes from a larger number of limited video-lottery machines at clubs and taverns. There are currently 6,700 machines.

The state is expected to have a total of 9,000 video lottery machines statewide, the maximum amount approved by the legislature.

All gambling income is up, including racetrack video-lottery, on-line game sales and instant ticket sales.

Gambling experts say gambling increases during periods of joblessness and recession.