WASHINGTON (AP) - Lottery revenue in the District of Columbia is on the rise again after a five-year slump in sales.

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The Washington Post reports that D.C. Lottery revenue in the fiscal year that ended September 30 totaled nearly $250 million. That falls below the all-time sales high of $266 million from 2006, but it's still a nearly 8 percent jump from last year.

Lottery sales had been slumping in the last few years, in part because of increased competition from Maryland and Virginia.

D.C. Lottery Director Buddy Roogow says that because of changing demographics, he's been focusing more on instant-win games and improving scratch-off tickets.

Meanwhile, a federal grand jury is investigating the circumstances surrounding the District's lottery contract.