The Tennessee Education Lottery has closed its fiscal year by shattering records throughout the 12-month period, with an all-time high for sales and proceeds for education.
This year’s record sales resulted in a contribution of $394 million for all education programs funded by the Lottery, a record increase of $46.3 million, or 13.3 percent, over last year’s record return. This brings the total raised to more than $3.8 billion since inception.
The lottery reported a record $1.626 billion in total sales for the period from July 1, 2015, through June 30, an increase of $151 million, or 10.2 percent, over last year’s previous sales record of $1.475 billion. This brings total sales since inception to more than $15 billion.
“It’s been a stellar year,” said Rebecca Hargrove, president and CEO of the lottery. “These results are welcome news for students and families in Tennessee, who continue to benefit from the more than one million scholarships, grants and dual enrollment awards given since we began. I’m proud of our entire team, and we remain committed to the strategies that have led to 12 consecutive years of sales growth.”
Strong instant game sales started the year off on a record pace, culminating with a record $1.304 billion—6.88 percent over last year’s record of $1.22 billion.
Drawing-style game sales set a record of $322.8 million, 7.6 percent higher than the prior record of $300 million, fueled by an unprecedented $1.58 billion Powerball jackpot. The lottery set monthly total sales records in 11 of the 12 months of FY16, and set quarterly records for all four quarters.
In addition to students, players and retailers benefited. Since inception, players have won more than $10.1 billion in prizes, with 189 winning tickets sold worth $1 million or more. 20 of those $1 million and up winners were during FY16, including two Powerball jackpot winners of $528.8 million and $144.1 million. Lottery retailer partners have earned close to $979 million in retailer commissions since inception.