Nebraska Lottery Generates Record Amount for Beneficiaries
Strong ticket sales and a billion-dollar Powerball jackpot run resulted in the largest amount of proceeds transferred to the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery was established in 1993.
A total of $14,484,483, derived from a share of Scratch and Lotto ticket sales from the previous three months, was distributed the week of April 1 among the beneficiaries in the following manner:
Education Innovation Fund, $2,860,685;
Nebraska Opportunity Grant Fund, $3,584,910;
Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, $6,445,595;
Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund, $1,448,448; and
Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund, $144,845.
The latest transfer exceeded the previous record of $11,106,535 transferred in June 2013. A total of $596,274,631 in proceeds has been distributed since the Nebraska Lottery began operation on September 11, 1993.
Nebraska Lottery Acting Director Jill Marshall attributes the historic transfer amount to strong sales of Powerball tickets during the quarter. “The Powerball jackpot reached new heights in January, with a record $1.58 billion drawing on January 13,” said Marshall. “Ticket sales for Powerball, in addition to continued growth in Scratch ticket sales, resulted in this unprecedented quarterly transfer to our beneficiary funds. We’re proud to continue our mission of building a better Nebraska using lottery proceeds.”
The increased transfer amount will have a direct impact in Nebraska. Projects funded with lottery proceeds range from critical habitat protection for wildlife and grants to Nebraska college students to enhancements to facilities at the Nebraska State Fair and assistance for problem gamblers.
The Nebraska Environmental Trust uses Lottery proceeds for grants to improve Nebraska’s natural resources. “As a beneficiary of the Nebraska Lottery, the Trust is very grateful to receive these additional funds,” said Mark Brohman, Executive Director of the Nebraska Environmental Trust. “We are very excited anticipating the extra projects we will be able to fund.”
Lottery proceeds are also used to support the Nebraska State Fair. Joseph McDermott, Executive Director of the Nebraska State Fair said, “The additional money gives us a head start for future long-term improvements to our fairgrounds. Our board of directors is currently in the process of setting goals for the next five and ten years. These dollars will help pave the way for future projects that will continue to engage, educate and entertain our fair guests."
Criteria for the use of proceeds are established by the beneficiary funds in accordance with legislative mandates.
Published on 04/01/2016