TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - Thanks in part to strong Powerball and Mega Million jackpots, Florida Lottery sales grew eight percent to a record $6.7 billion over the past year, according to the state agency.
Scratch-off tickets accounted for 69 percent of the sales in the 2017-2018 fiscal year that ended June 30.
Scratch game sales were up about $400 million from the prior year, with sales from draw games up about 100 million.
Florida Lottery Deputy Secretary of Sales Mike Purcell anticipates that up to $1.75 billion of the money generated by the sales will be transferred to the state’s Educational Enhancement Trust Fund.
“When the jackpots are really high, that brings everybody in but we don’t rely on that," said Purcell. "We make sure that we have a good variety of base games that people can play year around, despite what the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpots are.”
About 60 percent of lottery revenue is paid out to winners, with the majority of the rest being put into the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund.
