“We saw negative impacts on sales in the last quarter of the fiscal year due the Coronavirus pandemic, which the gains in scratch-off sales helped to offset. Throughout the last year, the Lottery proactively utilized predictive modeling tools to optimize scratch-off inventory levels at retail locations. Similar to the rest of the industry, sales remained steady during this time due in part to the limited entertainment options available,” Ohio Lottery Director Pat McDonald said.
For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Danielle Frizzi-Babb, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or the Office of Communications, 216-774-5685
Ohio Lottery Reports Sales of $4.3 Billion
Profits of $1.13 billion for Education
CLEVELAND – Ohio Lottery Director Pat McDonald announced the fiscal year ended with $4.3 billion in sales resulting in a $1.127 billion transfer to the Lottery Profits Education Fund, which supports K through 12, vocational, and special education programs in Ohio.
Ohio Lottery traditional sales, combined with video lottery net win, totaled $4.3 billion in Fiscal Year 2020. Traditional sales of $3.47 billion were $111.5 million ahead of the previous fiscal year.
The scratch-off category led with sales of $1.87 billion, an increase of $211.5 million over the previous year. Scratch-Off sales benefitted from an increased use of data analytics to help optimize game inventory levels, strategic product mix, and marketing support. The introduction of a new $20 holiday scratch-off also helped boost holiday sales, with the highest recorded weekly scratch-off sales ever recorded during Christmas week.
“We saw negative impacts on sales in the last quarter of the fiscal year due the Coronavirus pandemic, which the gains in scratch-off sales helped to offset. Throughout the last year, the Lottery proactively utilized predictive modeling tools to optimize scratch-off inventory levels at retail locations. Similar to the rest of the industry, sales remained steady during this time due in part to the limited entertainment options available,” Ohio Lottery Director Pat McDonald said.
The gains in scratch-off sales helped balance the losses in other categories impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic. The Lottery’s KENO® category marked $439 million in sales, down by $14 million compared to the previous year. KENO® is a staple entertainment option available at many restaurants and bars throughout the state and was impacted during the Stay at Home Order during the months of March and April.
VLT sales ended the fiscal year at $820.9 million, down $237 million from the previous fiscal year. Racino properties were closed from March until June due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
In April, the Lottery introduced Mobile Cashing through the Ohio Lottery app, allowing customers to cash winning tickets between $50 and $5,000 and have their winnings deposited into a bank account. The program offers a secure and easy way to cash winning tickets from home. To date, more than $21.6 million in prizes have been paid through the application.
All figures are preliminary and unaudited. Audited figures are expected to be released in October.
Information on VLT revenue can be found here: http://www.ohiolottery.com/About/Financial/VLT-Revenue
ABOUT THE OHIO LOTTERY:
The Ohio Lottery has contributed over $26 billion to education since 1974. For more information about the Ohio Lottery and its contribution to education, visit
www.ohiolottery.com/supportingeducation.
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