Kentucky Lottery players won more than $1.5 billion in prizes during fiscal year 2024, and the organization is celebrating its 35th Anniversary following record-breaking sales and transfers to the Commonwealth — funding scholarships and grants.
The $2 billion in sales was a 14% increase from fiscal year 2023, and it was only seven years ago, in 2017, when the Kentucky Lottery reached $1 billion in sales.
With the increase in sales comes the increase in transfers back to the state, up 6% from last year to $404 million.
And since 1999, the Kentucky Lottery has funded more than $5 billion in scholarships and grants.
Kentucky Lottery President and CEO Mary Harville said the banner year occurred for several reasons, including: entertaining games and big jackpots, availability through 3,500 retailer partners, an experienced Kentucky Lottery staff, and the good causes supported through the funds.
Harville said one in five Kentuckians, on average, has received a college scholarship or grant funded by the Kentucky Lottery.
Fiscal year 2024 by the numbers:
*The Kentucky Lottery made 21 millionaires.
*146 players were big winners of $100,000 or more.
*One group of middle school employees won $1 million on Powerball.
*And the Lottery commission and its incentive payments to retailers totaled more than $87 million.
Scholarships and grant programs funded by Kentucky Lottery proceeds include:
— Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship or KEES
— Kentucky Tuition Grant
— College Access Program
— Work Ready Scholarship
— Dual Credit Scholarship
— Teacher Scholarship
— National Guard Scholarship
County, 2023 Total Award, 2023 Total Amount, Total Awards, Total Amounts
Caldwell: 510; $888,837; 8,577; $12,557,635
Christian: 1,832; $3,643,221; 33,599; $47,599,669
Hopkins: 1,887; $3,158,871; 31,874; $46,108,915
Lyon: 260; $439,043; 4,560; $6,630,810
Todd: 377; $670,167; 6,001; $8,499,073
Trigg: 564; $1,021,405; 8,616; $12,835,078
