Tennessee Lottery: Tenn. lottery sales up 18 percent since last year
More than $270 million for scholarships, after-school projects
The Tennessee Lottery saw an 18 percent increase in sales for its fiscal year ending in June, propelled upward in part by 36 new scratch-off games and two Powerball jackpots topping $300 million, according to lottery president and chief executive officer Rebecca Paul.
Net sales, which do not include tickets given out as prizes, rose 18 percent to $933.4 million, up from $788 million during the year prior.
"It's been a great year," Paul said. "It was a great year for education."
Some 55,000 Tennessee students got college scholarships during the fiscal year. A total of $269.8 million was raised for scholarships and another $7.3 million for after-school programs.
Graduating high-school seniors can get $3,800 in scholarship funds per year, and more is available to students with outstanding academic records.