PHOENIX, AZ--(Marketwired - Aug 19, 2015) - The unaudited Fiscal Year 2015 numbers are in and Arizona players and the state of Arizona received huge payouts with over $620 million in game prize winnings and over $176 million in transfers to Arizona beneficiaries.
The Arizona Lottery is committed to increasing revenue and transfers year over year to help sustain the important programs benefitting from Lottery funding. In fact, there has been a steady climb in ticket sales during 14 of the past 15 years and increased transfers to beneficiaries in 12 of the past 15 years.
"The Lottery's mission is to generate revenues in a responsible manner to provide essential funding for important state programs," said Tony Bouie, Executive Director of the Arizona Lottery. "We are fortunate to give millions of dollars back to the Arizona community and support local businesses through sub-contracting opportunities."
Lottery dollars support a wide variety of programs under six main pillars: Arts and Education, Community Engagement, Economic Development, Environmental Conservation, Health and Human Services, and Public Safety, benefitting cities and towns throughout all of Arizona's 15 counties. More than $176 million in net funding was provided for Lottery beneficiaries during this fiscal year. Without this vital funding, many programs would not exist.
Arizona Lottery beneficiary funding has helped numerous important state initiatives including delivering education, support and advocacy services to pregnant women and their families through the Arizona Department of Health Services Health Start Program, providing state of the art educational facilities for Arizona's public universities through the Arizona Board of Regents University Bond Fund, and saving endangered animals through The Heritage Fund.
In Fiscal Year 2015, three new Arizona Lottery beneficiaries were added with the enactment of Senate Bill 1477 and House Bill 2517. The beneficiaries include the Internet Crimes Against Children Enforcement Fund, the Victims' Rights Enforcement Fund, and the Tribal College Dual Enrollment Program Fund.
Lottery dollars also positively impact the almost 2,800 Arizona retailers who sell lottery tickets. In Fiscal Year 2015, lottery retailers earned more than $48 million in retailer commissions. Many Arizona retailers rely on ticket commissions to support their local businesses.
About the Arizona Lottery
The Arizona Lottery operates entirely from the revenue it generates through the sale of its products; it doesn't receive any General Fund dollars from the State. Proceeds from sales of Lottery tickets -- nearly $3.4 million per week, fund a variety of state programs. Since July 1981, the Arizona Lottery has paid out more than $6.2 billion in prizes to players, more than $3.3 billion in net funding to the state and more than $735 million in commissions to retailers. Learn more at ArizonaLottery.com
Contact Information:
Contact:
Cindy Esquer
Arizona Lottery
(480.921.4517)