Georgia’s lottery program just hit the big one, transferring more than $1 billion to public education for the first time in its 23-year history.

The announcement from Gov. Nathan Deal’s office Wednesday says $1.09 billion in fiscal year 2016 profits that have been delivered to the state treasury for education by Georgia Lottery Corp. surpassed last year’s record-setting amount by $117 million.

The proceeds fund the HOPE Scholarship, the Georgia Pre-K Program and capital outlay projects including technological upgrades for schools and universities.

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