Kentucky Lottery on track for ‘remarkable’ recording-breaking fiscal year

Kentucky Lottery has published details of its May sales performance, reemphasising that it will achieve record-breaking returns throughout FY2021.
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The Kentucky Lottery has published details of its May sales performance, reemphasising that it will achieve record-breaking returns throughout the 2021 fiscal year, with Board Chairman Mark F Sommer calling the accomplishment ‘nothing short of remarkable’.

Last month, the Bluegrass State lottery reported that its sales for the fiscal year had already exceeded the previous year’s returns despite the final month yet to be reported. The lottery achieved $1.2bn in ticket sales in FY20.

At a recent meeting of the lottery’s board of directors, Vice President and Corporate Controller Maggie Garrison reported fiscal year-to-date sales (FY21: July 2020 – May 2021) totalled $1.45bn, which is $379.4m (35.3%) more than the same period last year, and $284m (24.3%) more than budget.

Board Chairman, Mark F Sommer, commented: “The entire board is so pleased at how this fiscal year is shaping up to end. To continue to set and break records like this in the face of the most challenging of circumstances is nothing short of remarkable.

“We appreciate and commend the hard and very effective teamwork of our staff and lottery retailers to make this happen.”

Scratch-off tickets were the lottery’s biggest driver of increased sales, finishing the period at $880.6m, which is $223.9m (34.1%) more than the previous year-to-date. The lottery’s internet sales continue to grow too, with ilottery instant play games finishing the period at $105.5m.

Total ilottery sales have increased $84.4m (or 219.7%) from the same period last year. Instant Play sales are now the third-highest sales product overall, behind scratch-off games and Pick 3.

The board also approved the lottery’s budget for FY22 with a total sales goal of $1.59bn. Income before the transfer of dividends is budgeted to be $339.5m.

President and CEO Mary Harville also announced that the lottery was named the 2021 Best Place to Work in Kentucky (medium-size company) by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management.

The award is given based on the results of an employee survey of workplace satisfaction and an evaluation of policies, practices, and demographics. The lottery competed in the medium company designation of businesses with 150 to 499 employees.

Harville said: “To have the designation as the best place to work in the entire state – even in light of circumstances no one ever could have imagined possible – is such a tremendous honour for all of us. We’ve worked hard to create an atmosphere that is a great place to work while at the same time-shattering sales records.

“Those two goals can successfully coexist, and we’re now an example of that. The best interest of our employees has always been top of mind for us as we’ve navigated the challenging times of the last year, and it’s reaffirming to see our employees appreciating what we’ve been able to accomplish.”

The board also approved a contract with SGI/Optimove for a customer data platform, an email marketing solution and related services; the FY22 retailer incentive plan, and; rules and regulations for 10 scratch-off games and new or amended rules for six Instant Play games.

Earlier this year, Scientific Games launched its lottery retail solutions for instant game purchases in Kentucky checkout lines with SCiQ InLane technology.

Through a partnership with the Kentucky Lottery, grocery retailer Kroger and branded payments program Blackhawk Network, shoppers at Lexington, Kentucky area Kroger stores can now purchase scratch games with other items in one convenient transaction at checkouts.