The Kentucky Lottery has announced that its sales figures in the 2021 fiscal year to date are higher than at any other point during its 32-year history.
Vice President and Corporate Controller Maggie Garrison reported that the Bluegrass State lottery’s fiscal year-to-date sales (July-April) totalled $1.3bn, which is $369.7m (or 39.6%) more than the same period last year, and $248.9m (or 23.6%) more than budget. For context, the lottery sold $1.2bn in tickets for the entirety of the 2020 fiscal year.
Garrison noted that one of the drivers behind the increase was a jump in the sale of scratch-off tickets, which recorded $790.1m in the period, up $226.4m (or 40.2%) from $563.7m for the year-to-date period in 2020.
The lottery’s internet sales also improved, up 243% for the same period last year. Its ilottery platform posted $107.1m in sales year-to-date, up from $31.2m for the same period last year (a $75.9m increase).
Year-to-date net income totalled $290.5m, which is $82.2m (or 39.4%) more than last year and $61m (or 26.5%) more than budget.
President and CEO Mary Harville commented: “We’ve been in a unique position to thrive during the pandemic. When most all other forms of entertainment were shut down during the early part of the pandemic, most of our retailers, gas stations and grocery stores, remained open.
“We made sure they were well-stocked with fun and entertaining games at a variety of price points. I really believe players rediscovered the fun of lottery games during that period, and, as things have opened up, it’s clear they’ve continued to enjoy our games.”
Earlier this month, the lottery also announced a program that will give a free lottery ticket to anyone over the age of 18 who gets a first or second COVID-19 vaccination dose at a participating Kroger or Walmart store.