MIDDLETOWN, Pa., July 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Lottery officials said that its statewide computer network that sells terminal-based games and validates winning tickets has been unavailable since 6 a.m. when retailers can typically start sales.

The Lottery and its vendor, Scientific Games International, are working to resolve the problem, which is affecting all of Lottery's approximately 8,500 retailers. At this time, there is no estimate of when the system will be back online.

Lottery officials will conduct the mid-day drawings for The Daily Number, Big 4, Quinto and Treasure Hunt as planned, and players who have purchased advance tickets for today's games will be able to validate winning tickets once the system is available.

"We apologize for any inconvenience to our players and retailers, and we thank them for their patience in this matter," said Lottery Executive Director Ed Trees.

About the Pennsylvania Lottery: The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery that designates all its proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since its inception 38 years ago, the Pennsylvania Lottery has contributed more than $19.2 billion to programs that include property tax and rent rebates; free and reduced-fare transit; the low-cost prescription drug programs PACE and PACENET; long-term living services; and the 52 Area Agencies on Aging, including more than 600 full- and part-time senior centers throughout the state. The Pennsylvania Lottery reminds its players to play responsibly. Players must be 18 or older.

For more information on the Pennsylvania Lottery, visit www.palottery.com.

Media contact: Kirstin Alvanitakis, 717-702-8008

SOURCE Pennsylvania Lottery