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September.”
The Virginia Lottery has been more successful than most everyone had predicted. When the lottery was being debated by lawmakers in 1987, Virginia’s Department of Planning and Budget estimated that the Virginia lottery could sell 250 million tickets in the first 12 months. Earlier this month, sales topped the $350 million mark - less than eight months after tickets went on sale last September.
Fifty percent of the money has been returned to players in the form of prizes. More than 1,750 players have won top prizes between $5,000 and $20,000. Ten percent of the money is used for the administration of the lottery - including all salaries, rents, advertising and the cost of printing and delivering tickets.
Five percent goes to retailers as their commission for selling the tickets. Since September, the 5,700 lottery retailers across the state have earned $17.5 million in commissions. Although on average, retailers have sold 60,000 tickets, more than 175 retailers have sold 200,000 or more.
Two retailers have passed the million mark. Simmons 76 Autotruck Stop in Bracey (just over the North Carolina/Virginia border) sold its one millionth ticket on March 1. Ed’s Stop & Go in Danville will sell its millionth ticket in mid-May.
The final 35 percent goes to the state’s general fund. Lawmakers have decided to spend the lottery proceeds on 83 capital building projects. Nearly $200 million will be spent on higher education, $30 million for park improvements, agriculture, forestry and mining projects and $22 million for mental health projects.
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