ohio lottery Record sales boost money for schools

Associated Press

DAYTON

A year of record-high sales for the Ohio Lottery means its highest payout yet for public schools: $771 million.

The lottery topped $2.7 billion in sales for the fiscal year that ended June 30, up from $2.6 billion the previous year. Lottery sales in Ohio have increased for the past 11 years, with the previous record profit transfer of $748.8 million set in 1997, according to the lottery.

By law, lottery profits are given to the Ohio Department of Education to support schools. The funding amounts to about 6 percent of the department’s general revenue budget of $7.6 million but could be more significant amid cost-cutting and declining revenues in many districts, the Dayton Daily News reported.

Preliminary figures show sales were up by $133 million from the previous fiscal year, not including video lottery terminal sales.

The sales for last fiscal year were helped by a record $656 million Mega Millions jackpot in March.

Sales of Powerball tickets also helped increase overall sales. Powerball sales were up 38 percent to $105 million in the last fiscal year.

Interest in some of the oldest games, including Pick 3 and Pick 4, has begun to decline some. But the two games combined still accounted for 21 percent of total lottery sales.