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TEXAS LOTTERY WILL MAKE HISTORY IN FISCAL YEAR 2019
Record revenue expected for Texas public schools and Texas veterans (AUSTIN) – It’s an exciting time to Play the Games of Texas® , as the Texas Lottery continues to shatter sales records, and record contributions are expected again this year for Texas education and veterans.
With 11 weeks left in fiscal year 2019, current sales are up 13% to-date over fiscal year 2018, thanks in large part to:
• the addition of a new twenty-dollar Million Dollar Loteria scratch ticket to the best-selling Loteria family of games;
• the launch of exciting new and expanded second-chance cash and trip prize promotions built around the Multiplier and Gem 7s families of scratch tickets;
• the continued introduction of scratch ticket games featuring innovative play styles, licensed properties and unique production features;
• a redesign to the popular draw game Cash Five® and the launch of the new FIREBALL add-on feature for the Pick 3TM and Daily 4 TM daily draw games; and
• player excitement surrounding large national jackpots for both Powerball® and Mega Millions® , including a record-setting $1.537 billion Mega Millions® jackpot prize.
This growth includes eight weeks of more than $100 million in scratch ticket sales, including a six-week run that was capped by a record-breaking sales week ($108,027,193 for the week ending April 6).
“We take seriously the innovative nature our work requires us to pursue on a daily basis, and we would not be seeing this record growth without the hard work of our employees, retailers and vendor partners. We have accomplished all of this while being careful to stay within the statutory and budgetary guidelines the Texas Legislature requires of our agency,” said Gary Grief, executive director of the Texas Lottery. “We also remain committed to our PLAY RESPONSIBLY messaging to players, having recently developed new content for our webpage, brochures and social media platforms.”
Most importantly, record sales growth will mean a record year of contributions to the Texas Lottery’s two main beneficiaries, the Foundation School Fund and the Fund for Veterans’ Assistance. Based on sales to date, the Texas Lottery is on pace to give more than $1.6 billion to the Foundation School Fund and $18.2 million to the Fund for Veterans’ Assistance, the Lottery’s largest contributions ever to Texas education and Texas veterans.
The Texas Lottery has now contributed more than $23 billion to Texas public education and more than $115 million to Texas veterans since the dedication of such funds by the Texas Legislature. The Beneficiaries: Texas Education and Texas Veterans The Foundation School Fund, administered by the Texas Education Agency, funds the operational needs and special program services for Texas school districts including teacher salaries, utilities, equipment, bilingual education, special education, gifted and talented education, and career and technical education. The Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans’ Assistance makes grants available to eligible charitable organizations, local government agencies, and Veterans Service Organizations that provide direct services to Texas veterans and their families. With 1.7 million veterans spread across the state, these programs provide financial assistance, transportation services, PostTraumatic Stress Disorder counseling and housing assistance.
About the Texas Lottery Beginning with the first ticket sold in 1992, the Texas Lottery has generated $29 billion in revenue for the state and distributed $60 billion in prizes to lottery players. Since 1997, the Texas Lottery has contributed $23 billion to the Foundation School Fund, which supports public education in Texas. As authorized by the Texas Legislature, certain Texas Lottery revenues benefit state programs including the Fund for Veterans’ Assistance. Since the first veterans’ themed scratch ticket game was launched in 2009, the Texas Lottery has contributed more than $115 million for programs supporting Texas veterans. The Texas Lottery provides several entertaining games for lottery players including Powerball® , Mega Millions® , Lotto Texas® , All or Nothing™, Texas Two Step® , Pick 3™, Daily 4™, Cash Five and scratch ticket games. For more information, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or at www.txlottery.org.
PLAY RESPONSIBLY.
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