In Massachusetts alone, lottery revenue in fiscal year 2024 totaled over $6.1 billion. So, where does lottery money go?
You can feel good knowing that lottery revenue by state funds worthy causes in nationwide.
While 50-60% of lottery funds end up in winners’ pockets in the form of lottery prizes, the leftover revenue is used in different ways. A portion of the proceeds go to state-funded programs such as public education, veterans services, the environment and other important causes.
Participating retailers may receive a small commission on ticket sales (varies by state), and an even smaller percentage is allocated to lottery admin expenses associated with running the games (less than 5%).
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Who benefits from the lottery? A state-by-state guide.
Where do lottery proceeds go? Each state chooses how to best use the money they raise through lottery ticket sales. Are there any common themes between the states? Yes! Common themes include education, the great outdoors, veterans, crime prevention and other public services (variable by state).
Let’s take a closer look at each state and the beneficiaries they support.
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Arizona Lottery
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Heritage Fund
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Commerce Authority Arizona Competes Fund
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Mass Transit
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Healthy Arizona
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State of Arizona General Fund
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Court Appointed Special Advocate Fund (Unclaimed prizes)
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Homeless Shelters
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Dept of Gaming
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University Bond Fund
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Internet Crimes Against Children Victims
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Tribal College Dual Enrollment Program
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Arkansas Scholarship Lottery
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Educational Trust Fund
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California Lottery
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Education
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Colorado Lottery
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Division of Parks and Wildlife
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Conservation Trust Fund
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Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund
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School Fund
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Connecticut Lottery
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General Fund (to benefit education, roads, health and hospitals, public safety, etc.)
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Delaware Lottery
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General Fund
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Health & Social Services-Problem Gambler Programs
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DC Lottery
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General Fund
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Florida Lottery
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Education Enhancement Trust Fund
Get the latest Florida lottery results and winning numbers
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Georgia Lottery
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Lottery for Education Account
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Idaho Lottery
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Public Schools (K-12)
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Public Buildings
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Illinois Lottery
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Illinois Common School Fund (K-12)
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Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund
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Ticket For The Cure Fund
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Quality of Life Endowment Fund
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Multiple Sclerosis Research Fund
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Special Olympics Fund
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Indiana Lottery
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Build Indiana Fund
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Teachers Pension Fund
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Police & Firefighters Pension Fund
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Iowa Lottery
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General Fund
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Veterans Trust Fund
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Kansas Lottery
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Transfers to the State
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Kentucky Lottery
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Post-Secondary & College Scholarships
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Literacy Programs & Early Childhood Reading
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Louisiana Lottery
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Transfers to State
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Problem Gambling
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Maine Lottery
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General Fund
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Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund
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Maryland Lottery
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Maryland General Fund – Lottery Profit
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Baltimore City Schools – Lottery Profit
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Maryland Stadium Authority – Lottery Profit
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Education Trust Fund – VLT and Table Game Proceeds
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Local Impact Grants – VLT Proceeds
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Horse Racing Industry – VLT Proceeds
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Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Businesses – VLT Proceeds
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Responsible Gaming – VLT and Table Game Assessments
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Massachusetts Lottery
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Cities and Towns
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Arts Council
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General Fund
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Compulsive Gamblers
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Michigan Lottery
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Education (K-12)
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Health and Human Services
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General Fund
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Minnesota Lottery
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General Fund
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Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund
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Game & Fish Fund
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Natural Resources Fund
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Compulsive Gambling
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Missouri Lottery
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Public Education in Missouri
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Montana
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State of Montana General Fund
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Nebraska
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Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund
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Education Innovation Fund
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Environmental Trust Fund
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State Fair Support & Improvement Fund
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Nebraska Opportunity Grant Fund
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New Hampshire
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Education
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New Jersey
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Education and Institutions
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New Mexico
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Lottery Tuition Fund
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New York
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Education
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North Carolina
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Education
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Alcohol Law Enforcement
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NC Problem Gambling
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North Dakota
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Compulsive Gambling Fund
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State General Fund
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Drug Task Force
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Ohio
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Education
Get the latest Ohio lottery results and winning numbers for all state games
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Oklahoma
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Education
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Mental Health
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/istockphoto.
Oregon
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Economic Development
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Public Education
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Parks and Natural Resource Programs
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Gambling Addiction Prevention & Treatment Programs
Image Credit: jbentley09/istockphoto.
Rhode Island
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General Fund
Image Credit: Sanghwan Kim/istockphoto.
South Carolina
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Education Lottery Fund
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/istockphoto.
South Dakota
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General Fund
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Capital Construction Fund
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Grant to Human Services
Image Credit: Wirestock/istockphoto.
Tennessee
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Lottery for Education Account
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After School Program
Image Credit: Kruck20/istockphoto.
Texas
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Foundation School Fund
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Multicategorical Teaching Hospital
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Texas Veterans Commission (Veterans Assistance Fund)
Image Credit: felixmizioznikov/Istockphoto.
Vermont
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Education Fund
Image Credit: Nicholas Klein/istockphoto.
Virginia
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Direct aid to Public Education K-12
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Washington
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Washington Opportunity Pathways Account
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King County Stadium and Exhibition Center (Qwest Field)
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Economic Devel. Strategic Reserve
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Problem Gambling
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General Fund
Image Credit: artursfoto/istockphoto.
West Virginia
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Education
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Senior Citizens
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Tourism
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Other
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/istockphoto.
Wisconsin
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Public Benefit – Total Available for Property Tax Relief
Image Credit: Jon Mattrisch/istockphoto.
Wyoming
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Wyoming Cities, Town, and Counties
Image Credit: Julie Clopper/istockphoto.
Making a difference in your community
When you play the lottery in your state, not only are you getting to enjoy the fun of the game, but you’re also supporting causes that are important to your state. Your lottery tickets contribute to vital community services such as educating children, helping people experiencing homelessness, providing services to veterans or maintaining parks and recreation initiatives.
Every time you play the lottery online or in the store, your ticket is helping to fund essential local programs, and that’s a win for your state! While each state distributes where lottery money goes a little differently, rest assured that every ticket played is making a difference.
This article originally appeared on Jackpocket.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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