Why lotteries across the U.S. are celebrating this week

National Lottery Week is shining a spotlight on more than just jackpot winners. Across the United States, lotteries are taking time this week to recognize the players, retailers, employees, and community programs that make their operations possible. While each state is celebrating a little differently, the common theme is simple: highlighting the impact lotteries have beyond the prizes.

National Lottery Week puts the spotlight on players

For 2026, National Lottery Week will run from July 13 through July 17, which is actually National Lottery Day. The week is observed by lotteries across the country.

This is an annual celebration, and it gives lottery organizations a chance to thank the players who buy tickets, the retailers who sell them, and the employees who keep everything running behind the scenes.

National Lottery Week is also a chance to remind the public where lottery proceeds go. While most players are out there dreaming about winning a life-changing jackpot, state lotteries also use the week to highlight the billions of dollars generated for education, veterans' programs, environmental projects, parks, and other public initiatives.

Several state lotteries are pairing those messages with special promotions, contests, and limited-time offers to give players another reason to celebrate.

Florida shines light on community impact

For nearly four decades, the Florida Lottery has had a mission to fund education throughout the state. They are now using National Lottery Week to celebrate the people who have helped support its mission.

In a press release, Florida Lottery Secretary Reginald D. Dixon stated:

National Lottery Week is an opportunity to reflect on the people who make our mission possible—our players, retailers, employees, and partners.

While the big jackpots are the stories that often grab the headlines, state lottery officials wanted to emphasize that the lottery's larger mission is funding education throughout the state. Since launching in 1988, the Florida Lottery has:

• Contributed more than $51 billion to education.
• Helped support more than 1 million Bright Futures Scholarship recipients.
• Paid more than $110 billion in prizes.
• Created more than 4,900 millionaires.

Lottery officials say they plan to continue to focus on responsible gaming, innovation, and maximizing revenues for education while recognizing the role players have in making those contributions possible.

Nebraska is offering special promotions

While the Florida Lottery is celebrating its mission and community impact this National Lottery Week, the Nebraska Lottery is taking on a more hands-on approach. They are offering several promotions throughout the week.

One of the biggest is the Lottery Week Special, which runs from July 13 through July 31. During this time, players can buy one Lotto America with the All Star Bonus, plus two plays each of Nebraska Pick 5, Nebraska Pick 4, Nebraska Pick 3, MyDaY, and 2by2 for just $10 total.

Another promotion from the Nebraska Lottery is the Truck Color Poll, which runs from July 18 through July 31. This is a chance for players to vote on the color of the truck featured in the 2027 TRUCK$ & BUCK$ scratch-off game.

Finally, members of the Lottery's MVP Club who update or verify their account information by July 29 will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win up to $1,500 in cash.

All of these promotions are designed to encourage player participation while also adding a little extra excitement to the annual celebration.

More than a week of jackpots

National Lottery Week serves as a reminder that lotteries are more than just the latest Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.

For many states, proceeds from the lottery help fund programs that residents use every day, whether that's scholarships for college students, public schools, or other state programs. Lottery retailers also benefit through commissions on ticket sales, and players have the chance to win everything from free tickets to multimillion-dollar prizes.

For National Lottery Week 2026, the celebrations reflect that broader mission. Some lotteries are thanking players with special promotions, while others are using this week to showcase decades of contributions to their communities, like the Florida and California Lotteries are also doing.

No matter how a state lottery chooses to celebrate, National Lottery Week is ultimately a chance to recognize the millions of people who make the lottery possible every time you buy a ticket.

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