On July 1, the Arizona Lottery closed the 2010 fiscal year with record-breaking sales — the largest amount in the Lottery’s history; a 13.8 percent increase over last year. Nationally, the Arizona Lottery is ranked No. 1 in the percentage increase of overall lottery sales.
I credit much of our financial success to the continuing success of the $100 Million Cash Spectacular Scratchers℠ ticket, the introduction of new products such as the national drawing game, Mega Millions®, and some exciting changes to Scratchers games offering bigger top prizes, higher payouts, and more winners.
Players have appreciated these changes. After a joyous Yuma couple won one of the ten $1 million dollar prizes in the $100 Million Dollar Cash Spectacular game, the husband exclaimed, “After I found out I won, I literally dropped to my knees. She’s quitting her job. I’m buying an RV. We’re going on the road to see America!” Another Cash Spectacular winner shouted, “That’s a lot of zeros!” after revealing a winning $10,000 prize symbol. “I immediately thought of the bills I could pay,” said a recent Cash Explosion winner from Springerville. In total, winners were paid an astonishing $337 million dollars in prizes during the year.
Lottery sales also support a wide variety of public projects and programs including healthcare, wildlife, homeless programs, economic development, and education in cities and towns throughout all 15 Arizona counties. We are proud to report these record-breaking sales figures, particularly at a time when every dollar counts.
We’d love to hear your ideas for making the Lottery even more fun to play. Take time to contact us and learn more at arizonalottery.com, www.facebook.com/arizonalottery, and www.twitter.com/AZLottery. I look forward to hearing from you.
Jeff Hatch-Miller
Arizona Lottery Executive Director