COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Education Lottery announced Monday it set records for ticket sales and the amount of money raised for education in the last fiscal year. It also set records for the amount of prize money paid out and the commissions paid to lottery retailers.
Lottery revenue was more than $1.26 billion for the year. Ticket sales grew by $66 million, which meant the amount that got deposited into the lottery's education account was $323.4 million, or $23 million more than the previous year.
"I have sons who went to college who probably used some of that money and I'm very happy to support it. I think it's probably a worthy cause," said Les Hall, who was cashing in some winning scratch-off tickets Monday.
Lottery players walked off with more than $811.1 million in prize money in the last fiscal year, a record amount.
SC Education Lottery executive director Paula Harper Bethea says the increase in ticket sales was because of more people playing, both visitors to the state and people who have moved here.
"We do a demographic study, and what we do not want at the lottery is we don't want our players who are playing to play more. We want to constantly attract new people to the games," she says. She says the state Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services reports there has not been an increase in the number of people seeking help for gambling problems.
If you know someone who has a gambling problem, the state's Gambling Hotline is 1-877-452-5155.
Lottery retailers also set a record for commissions because of the record ticket sales. Retailers were paid more than $89.2 million, which the director says has a trickle-down effect that boosts the entire state economy.
Winners all around, nice job.
Nothing like seeing your hard earned dollars pay off for education- the only thing sweeter is holding the winning ticket to the MM or PB jackpot.
Thats what we talking about Baby!
Yep, and this is where it's at...more people playing and winning while the state is still able to take care of education. The whole idea of a small percentage of players being able to only enjoy the money they've spent by seeing it in education is a one-sided deal. It's the 'players' that keep the ball rolling so why not allow more people to win big prizes, enjoy better lives, and see their kids benefit education-wise. The people, THE CUSTOMERS, have ALL THE POWER in this deal and I've said this many times prior. They can make or break this deal at any point. It's in the states' best interest to do a better job in keeping their customers happy.
People do 'have' to go to grocery/convenience stores for food and other necessities. They don't have to purchase luxuries like lottery tickets at all and I hope other states follow SC's lead.
L.L.
Not here in tennessee the scratch off ticket are bad , the lottery site don't have good information about remaining ticket that is left and the odds are no true some ticket are 1 to 3or 4 for a winning ticket but a lot of time I might win on the 9th or 8 ticket so tennessee officials please take note from SC
Well I'm from north Carolina and I travel to south Carolina To play because NC has not won a jackpot in 4 years and people are Starting to notice. Inplus you can remain anonymous. How sweet
only one thing i see the lottery people do not know yes there is a lot of people hook they don't spend 50 to 100 dollars a day for fun i know some stores would let there main customers put numbers on credit and pay at the end of the week it is nice for education but some of these people need there money back to in a big way i really feel sorry them cause they can not see what is happening and i wonder if u was to call the helpline what would the do for these people with problems
i wish there would bring back the poker machines at least u know u had a sure shot once the machines got hotttttttttttttttt
who knows where that education money is going? those people who run colleges and university's are vastly overpaid. what do they do? show up 180 days a year and hide in their offices most of the time. trying their best not to be noticed. reminds me of that fraudulent senator from ma elizabeth warren who actually wants to be president. she taught one class a week and made 300,000.00 a year and yet pretends to lobby for lower tuition rates for students. what a fraud, what a phoney. of course all politicians aren't there for the people, only for themselves. college and university brass aren't much different. they are not there for anyone but themselves and to qualify for tenure or a pension. why people fall for this lottery money is going for education scam is beyond me. except for maintenance and office expenses the lottery should return all the money to the players not give it to some higher education entity that no one can prove how much they received.
Dont ever stop in Tennessee and play....kept them wheels rolling into Georgia ,Florida,and now South Carolina.....You cant win here so whats the point.
You are right Kandi and this is just a feel good story yea some of the money do go toward education BUT nobody wins around here too often and the scratch tickets are a JOKE,they need to tell the truth.
Sc is BAD too they just quit stealing the money so now the books show a profit big time crooks. I hardly ever play SC but I have been watching every since the lottery started,they cheated yesterday had midday number posted and in 15 or less it was changed to another number.
I was disgusted about that too, because I played the first number that was the TRUE winner.
I did not play Monday but my play Mother did I called and told her she had won they changed the number she got nothing and then this good old story how convenient it was for the 549 to hit Indiana midday yesterda. Lets see if it comes back today
Congratulations South Carolina Lottery
Keep up the Good work!!