FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2018
CONTACT:
LOTTERY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
(850) 487-7727
FLORIDA LOTTERY SHATTERS ALL RECORDS NATIONWIDE
TO ACHIEVE THE BEST SCRATCH-OFF SALES WEEK IN HISTORY
~ Contributes $23 Million to Education in One Week ~
TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Lottery announces that last week it shattered all previous single-week Scratch-Off sales records nationally, with $123,841,686 in Scratch sales. It also had its best overall sales week of the fiscal year, with $167,620,057 in total sales.
The Florida Lottery’s new $30 100 X THE CASH Scratch-Off game alone recorded $34,279,230 in sales for the week; resulting in total Scratch-Off sales exceeding the Lottery’s previous weekly sales record, set in 2017, by more than $18 million or 17 percent. More than $23.5 million in prizes for the game were also claimed last week. This ranks as the 2nd highest sales week by any Lottery for a Scratch game. Massachusetts holds the current record at $34,378,500, set in 2002.
With higher sales, come higher prize payouts for Lottery winners, increased retailer commissions and most importantly more funding to enhance education. Last week’s total sales generated approximately $40 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF).
“Breaking sales records like this is a significant achievement,” said Florida Lottery Secretary Jim Poppell. “The Florida Lottery is proud to be able to create millions of winners, partner with thousands of retailers statewide, many of whom are small business owners, and provide a reliable source of funding for Florida’s students and schools.”
Scratch-Off games are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, comprising approximately 68 percent of ticket sales and generating more than $784 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in fiscal year 2016-17.
ABOUT THE FLORIDA LOTTERY
The Florida Lottery is responsible for contributing more than $32 billion to education and sending more than 775,000 students to college through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. The Florida Lottery reinvests 98 percent of its revenue back into Florida’s economy through prize payouts, commissions to more than 13,000 Florida retailers and contributions to education. Since 1988, Florida Lottery games have paid more than $56.3 billion in prizes and made more than 2,000 people millionaires. For more information, please visit www.flalottery.com.
Taylor Nash | Deputy Communications Director
Florida Lottery | Communications
250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32301
(850) 487- 7727 | (850) 487-7777 ext. 2117
flalottery.com