Arizona Lottery has released its audited figures for FY2021, confirming previous reports that it was a record-breaking period on a number of metrics including sales, transfers and retail commissions.
For the period ending June 30, the audit has confirmed that combined sales from instant-win and draw games totaling more than $1.4bn, making it the lottery’s third consecutive record-breaking fiscal year.
Additionally, the lottery returned $98.2m to its retailers in commissions throughout FY2021 and paid out almost $978m in prizes to its players, ensuring money is driving the local economy.
Breaking down money transfers to good causes, Arizona Lottery contributed $288m across FY2021 including $22.2m to Healthy Arizona, a department that ensures low-income families in the Grand Canyon state have access to food.
Additionally, $3.5m was transferred to Arizona Competes, a scheme aiming to drive economic growth in the state by attracting more businesses and aiding existing companies.
Finally, amongst the over-dozen good causes it contributed to, the lottery transferred $1m to the Arizona Department of Economic Security, from which a large proportion helps to support the homeless population and mitigate the issues caused by the pandemic to vulnerable people.
“The Arizona Lottery and our entire network of valued retailers are proud to help provide the lifeline that so many vulnerable Arizonans depend upon every day, and to assist businesses across Arizona stay and grow, preserving and creating the jobs that are driving our economy forward,” Arizona Lottery Executive Director Gregg Edgar said.
“For 40 years now, Arizona Lottery ticket sales have generated hundreds of millions of dollars every year – totaling over $4.7bn (more than $1.3bn under Governor Doug Ducey’s administration) – to fund programmes that are providing critical services to our most at-risk citizens, growing our economy, sustaining higher education infrastructure, and helping to protect our iconic wildlife and landscapes.”