Record Amount of Proceeds Raised for Nebraska Lottery Beneficiaries
The Nebraska Lottery recently distributed among its beneficiary funds $12,037,151, derived from a share of Scratch and Lotto ticket sales for the previous three months. This is the third-largest quarterly transfer in the 25-year history of the Lottery.
A total of $682,671,182 has been distributed in quarterly transfers since the Nebraska Lottery began operation on September 11, 1993. The latest transfer, made the week of March 30, was distributed among beneficiaries in the following manner:
Nebraska Education Improvement Fund, $5,356,532;
Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund,$5,356,532;
Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund,$1,203,715; and
Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund,$120,372.
Strong Scratch ticket sales and extended jackpot runs for the Powerball and Mega Millions games contributed to the large transfer amount. The Lottery’s largest proceeds transfer occurred in March 2016 when $14.4 million was distributed to the beneficiary funds.
This transfer will have a direct impact here 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.
Amendment 4 passed by Nebraska voters in November of 2004 established the following distribution formula: Education as directed by the Legislature (44.5 percent) - currently distributed to the Nebraska Education Improvement Fund; Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund (44.5 percent); Nebraska State Fair (10 percent); and the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund (1 percent, plus the first $500,000 in fund proceeds each fiscal year).
The funds' respective totals to date are:
Nebraska Education Improvement Fund, $33,055,119;
Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund,$289,746,441;
Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund,$45,569,595; and
Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund,$15,686,713.
Prior to July 1, 1997, the Solid Waste Landfill Closure Assistance Fund received proceeds totaling $18,460,996. In 2004, the Legislature directed that a one-time transfer of $5 million be made to the State General Fund.
Prior to July 1, 2016, the Education Innovation Fund received proceeds totaling $174,222,842, and the Nebraska Opportunity Grand Fund received proceeds totaling $100,929,476.
Criteria for proceeds distribution are established by the beneficiary funds in accordance with legislative mandates. Every county in Nebraska has received service through grants funded with Nebraska Lottery proceeds.
Published on 03/29/2018