Record lottery funding marks the end of National Lottery Week

National Lottery Week typically shines a spotlight on the players, retailers, and winners who make state lotteries possible. However, as this year's celebration comes to an end and we celebrate National Lottery Day, the massive jackpots and the lucky winners aren't the only ones making headlines. Several state lotteries announced record-breaking milestones in lottery revenue this past year, which puts a spotlight on the billions of dollars that lottery players continue to generate for education and other public programs. 

From the Georgia Lottery surpassing a major annual benchmark to the Idaho Lottery posting its largest-ever dividend, the final days of National Lottery Week showcased how lottery proceeds continue to make an impact long after the drawings end.

Georgia tops $1 billion for 11th straight year

The Georgia Lottery announced it transferred $1.54 billion to support the state's HOPE Scholarship and Georgia's Pre-K Program during fiscal year 2026.

The Georgia Lottery was started in 1993. For over three decades, they have been contributing to the State Treasury's Lottery for Education Account. In that time, the state lottery has transferred more than $31.3 billion into that account.

This money has helped millions of students attend college or participate in voluntary pre-kindergarten.

Lottery officials credited players and retailers across the state for making the historic year possible.

Idaho posts record-breaking dividend

The Idaho Lottery had its own record-breaking year. The state lottery returned $90 million to Idaho schools and permanent state buildings.

For context, this was the biggest annual dividend the state lottery has ever contributed. In fact, it was $15 million more than last year’s dividend, so a 20% increase. This was also the biggest annual contribution since the lottery launched in 1989.

In Idaho, lottery revenue is used to help fund both K-12 public education and the state's Permanent Building Fund, which helps maintain and improve public facilities throughout the state.

Tennessee celebrates a significant milestone

We had a huge milestone announced by the Tennessee Education Lottery this week. They have officially raised over $8.39 billion for education programs in the state since ticket sales began in 2004.

During the fourth quarter of FY2026, the state lottery transferred $107.3 million. This put the total for the year at $15.2 million, more than the previous year.

This money from the lottery helps support scholarships, grants, after-school programs, and other educational opportunities throughout the state. The money has helped hundreds of thousands of students pursue higher education while at the same time benefiting K-12 programs.

New Jersey reports another strong year

New Jersey Lottery's numbers are in. While their numbers are still unaudited, they posted revenue of $1.01 billion. This was the ninth year in a row that the state lottery had exceeded $1 billion.

The state lottery saw strong sales across draw games and scratch-offs, which helps keep revenue on track for another billion-dollar year. State lottery officials did say the final audited numbers would be released at a later date, but that should just increase the numbers even higher.

National Lottery Week ends on a high note

National Lottery Week celebrates the players, retailers, employees, and partners who make state lotteries possible. With this year's celebration coming to an end, the spotlight shifted from these massive jackpots to the money that state lotteries are returning to their states.

Significant funding milestones were reported by Georgia, Idaho, Tennessee, and New Jersey. This highlighted the ongoing importance of lottery revenue in sustaining public services, schools, and scholarships. Even though jackpots can get the most attention, these year-end figures show the lottery's long-term effects on communities.

Enjoy playing the lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.