Lottery Achieves 13th Consecutive Year of Sales Above the Billion Dollar Mark

FY 2015 sales led to a transfer of $508.8 million to the State, which was $48.9 million above projections

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia Lottery Director John Musgrave announced today that Fiscal Year 2015 sales finished above $1.0 billion for the 13th consecutive year. The Lottery posted $1.16 billion in total sales for the fiscal year that just ended on June 30, 2015. This year’s sales resulted in a transfer of more than $508.8 million to the State of West Virginia, which was $48.9 million above projections.

“We are very fortunate to have yet another year of sales above the billion dollar mark,” said Musgrave. Despite the ongoing challenges from increased competition on our borders, a declining revenue forecast, and a shortage of high jackpots fueling sales of the Powerball® and Mega Millions® games at retail this past year, we have been able to meet our financial obligations to the State for more than 29 years. The hard work it takes to maintain our financial position is something to be proud of.”

Musgrave said that the money transferred to the State in FY 2015 included $254.6 million from Racetrack Video Lottery, $187.4 million from Limited Video Lottery, $23.0 million from Racetrack Table Games, $2.3 Million from the Historic Resort, and $41.5 million from the sale of Traditional Lottery products, which include Instant Scratch-off tickets, TRAVEL Keno and the popular Powerball® jackpot game.

Since the Lottery’s inception in 1986, the Lottery has generated more than $8.5 Billion in proceeds for legislative appropriation. These dollars fund programs to support seniors, education including the PROMISE Scholarship program, tourism and the general fund. During the Lottery’s 29-year history, $1.0 billion has been transferred to the State to support seniors, $2.9 billion for education and more than $920.6 million for tourism.