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

Keep Reading

 First Liberty Building & Loan founder Brant Frost IV. (Photo illustration: Philip Robibero/AJC)

Credit: Philip Robibero / AJC

Featured

Waymo autonomous vehicles operate across 65 square miles inside I-285 and have been involved in six incidents with Atlanta Public School buses since May. Waymo issued a recall because of their cars briefly stopping or slowing down before continuing forward while a bus was stopped and flashing its lights. (Courtesy of Atlanta Public Schools)

Credit: Courtesy of Atlanta Public Schools