Georgia lottery sales dip, but a little more goes to HOPE, pre-K

Georgia Lottery ticket sales declined about $29 million during the recently completed fiscal 2017, but the amount of money sent to school programs increased slightly.

The lottery sold $4.218 billion in tickets in fiscal 2017, which ended June 30, compared to $4.247 billion the previous year.

Lottery officials said sales figures in 2016 were helped by a world-record $1.6 billion jackpot and an extra day of sales, since it was a leap year.

Ticket sales have only been down a few years since the games were started in 1993. Ticket sales pay for HOPE scholarships and pre-kindergarten classes.

The lottery transferred $1.101 billion to those programs during fiscal 2017, up slightly from the $1.097 billion going to education the previous year.

For more on whether the slight increase will satisfy state lawmakers, check out our story on myajc.com

About the Author

Georgia has $14.6 billion in reserves. What to do with it?

State lawmakers could reduce taxes or try to cover program expenses passed down from federal cuts.

State agencies seek more than $1 billion in new spending

State agencies have asked for more than $1 billion in new funding next year amid uncertainty over the toll federal spending cuts will take on Georgia’s budget.

OPINION

U.S. House speaker continues to delay swearing in of Democrat

Usually, newly elected lawmakers go from their special election to the House floor without issue, yet it's been three weeks since Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva won.

The Latest

Credit: AP