Kentucky Lottery officials say sales figures are remaining strong — and higher than at any other point in the 32-year history of the organization.
At the board of directors meeting Monday, Vice President and Corporate Controller Maggie Garrison reported fiscal year-to-date sales from July through April totaled $1.3 billion, which is $369.7 million, or 39.6 percent, more than the same period last year, and $248.9 million more than budget. For context, the Lottery sold $1.2 billion in tickets for the entirety of fiscal year 2020.
According to Garrison, a big driver of the increase has been an explosion in the sale of Scratch-off tickets, with sales of that product alone up $226.4 million or 40.2 percent from the year-to-date total sales in 2020 to $790.1 million in 2020.
In addition, Garrison said sales via the internet dramatically increased 243 percent for the same period last year, with the iLottery platform posting $107.1 million in sales year-to-date.
Year-to-date income totaled $290.5 million, which is $82.2 million more than last year and $61 million more than budget.
Kentucky Lottery President/CEO Mary Harville said the organization has been in a unique position to thrive during the pandemic. She added that when all other forms of entertainment were shut down during the early part of the pandemic, most of their retailers, gas stations and grocery stores, remained open and players rediscovered the fun of lottery games during that period.