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CYE
Maryland Lottery Sales Exceed $1.673 Billion Dollar Mark
BALTIMORE, MD – The Maryland Lottery announced today that it has achieved its 11th straight year of record sales,
topping the $1.673 billion dollar mark and surpassing State estimates for the fiscal year. The Lottery also exceeded its revenue target,
raising $529 million in total revenue for the State of Maryland for Fiscal Year 2008.
Records were set in every major category, including total sales, prizes paid to players, commissions earned by Lottery retailers and revenues returned to the State
to help support vital state-funded programs and services.
“The revenue generated by the Maryland Lottery helps us move our State forward and provide the programs and services that the people of Maryland depend on,” said Governor O’Malley. “We have closed an inherited $1.7 billion structural deficit and made historic investments for our shared priorities. This revenue helps our One Maryland continue that progress.”
Fiscal year-end highlights include:
- Sales of over $1.673 billion, an increase of almost $96 million, or 6.1% over last year;
- Revenues of more than $529 million, a $35 million increase over last fiscal year;
- Prizes paid to players reached more than $967 million, reflecting an increase of more than $48 million over last year; and
- Commissions earned by retailers totaled nearly $118 million, an increase of more than $5.6 million over last year.
While sales hit the highest level ever, operational expenses remained low, finishing the year at an estimated 3.5% of total sales,
making the Maryland Lottery one of the most efficient in the industry.
Individual Lottery games also posted record sales. Instant games were robust, exceeding $513.8 million in sales, showing a significant increase for the 11th straight year.
Top-sellers in the scratch-off category for the year include Set for Life and Mega Bucks Jackpot.
The Lottery’s jackpot games -- Multi-Match, Mega Millions and Bonus Match 5 -- continued to perform well, with combined sales for all jackpot games totaling more than $184 million,
an increase of $32.8 million, or 20.9% over last year’s sales. Mega Millions, the Lottery’s multi-state jackpot game, brought in over $129.4 million in sales and produced over 3.2 million winners,
including 27 second-tier winners, 199 third-tier winners and two top-tier Mega Millions jackpot winners
“We are thrilled to achieve our 11th year of record sales,” said Lottery Director Buddy Roogow. “However, we recognize that with energy and gas prices on the rise,
consumers have less discretionary income.
As a result, FY ’09 will pose significant challenges to the Lottery in its efforts to achieve another record-breaking year.”
The Maryland Lottery was launched in 1973. Since its inception, the Agency has contributed more than $10.7 billion to the State to support programs including education, public safety, public health, economic development, and the environment.
Over $15.6 billion has been paid to players in the form of jackpots and prizes,
while Maryland businesses have received over $1.6 billion in commissions for selling Lottery products.
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