News writer
The Georgia Lottery has officially passed the $30 billion mark for the amount of money raised for education since its founding in 1993. The milestone was announced this week by Governor Brian Kemp. With federal and national funding to K–12 schools and colleges under pressure in 2025, those lottery proceeds are playing an increasingly important role in keeping classrooms, Pre‑K, and scholarships funded across Georgia.
Presenting the check
At a ceremonial check presentation during the Georgia–Georgia Tech game, Governor Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp were joined by top university leaders to celebrate the achievement. Georgia Lottery Corporation CEO Gretchen Corbin and Board Chairman John Irby handed over the symbolic check for the milestone.
“Since 1993, Georgia students from Pre-K to college have been set up for success through the programs funded by the lottery,” said Kemp during the event.
Federal cuts leave big gaps
2025 has brought major funding reductions at the national level. The U.S. Department of Education is facing roughly a 15% cut under the proposed 2026 budget. This would shrink the overall federal education spending from about $78.7 billion to $66.7 billion.
In fact, dozens of grant programs that support after-school programs are slated for consolidation or elimination entirely. Combined, these grants once delivered over $6.5 billion annually. This new funding stream would cut that down to $2 billion.
The programs likely to disappear or be drastically cut are those benefiting rural schools, arts, civics, migrant students, English-language learners, and at-risk youths. This could have deep consequences for low-income and underserved communities.
There is even strain for higher-education support. The budget includes proposed cuts to financial aid programs, which include big reductions to the federal work-study program and more strict guidelines for Pell Grant eligibility.
This all threatens to make college less affordable, just as tuition and living costs rise.
How the Georgia Lottery helps fill in those gaps
While the federal funding may be cut, that is where the Georgia Lottery's proceeds come in. According to the GLC, this $30 billion raised since 1993 has helped fund statewide Pre-K programs for 4-year-olds, the HOPE Scholarship and Grant programs for college students. They have also used billions of dollars for school capital projects and technology upgrades.
To date, the GLC has helped over 2.25 million students with the HOPE scholarships, and over 2.2 million children have attended Georgia's free Pre-K programs. There has also been over $1.8 billion used to support school buildings, classroom technology, and district improvements.
In the most recent quarterly transfer, the “Lottery for Education” account was $414.8 million. This shows that lottery funding remains active and growing, even if federal dollars are disappearing.
These lottery funds are generated by voluntary play, so they offer a stable, independent stream of revenue that doesn't rely on federal political priorities. That makes these funds an important buffer for education systems as Washington rethinks spending.
A growing trend across the country
This isn't just happening in Georgia. As federal support wanes, we are seeing more and more states relying heavily on state lotteries to fill the education funding gaps.
For students and their families, this shift raises important questions. However, it also offers tangible results: uninterrupted Pre-K, grant aid to college students, and classroom upgrades that might otherwise be delayed or cancelled.
In Georgia, hitting that $30 billion mark is more than a milestone. It's a statement of resilience. While national funding landscapes are shifting, state lottery revenue is quietly stepping up to keep education moving forward.
Enjoy playing the Georgia Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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