The first quarter fiscal year 2018 Kentucky Lottery sales were the highest for this period in history, led by strong Powerball and scratch-off ticket sales.
Total sales for the first quarter of FY18 (July-September) were $255.9 million. This is an 8.5% or $20.1 million increase from the same period in FY17. The largest percentage increase, 31.6%, came from Powerball sales. The $25.8 million in Powerball tickets sold for the period was $6.2 million more than the previous year. This was a result of the $785.7 million jackpot in August, the second-largest jackpot in Powerball history.
Scratch-off tickets showed the largest dollar increase, up $7.7 million or 5.6% to close the quarter with $145.2 million in sales. The re-vamped Kentucky CashBall 225 game also posted a strong increase, up 19.6% to $2.9 million. Keno sales rose 15% to $19.4 million, a $2.5 million increase.
Bottom line results show income before transfer of dividends up 7% for the quarter at $66.1 million. That’s a $4.3 million increase for the same period last year.
“While the halo effect from the large Powerball jackpot certainly helped with these results, other solid efforts are paying off as well,” said Kentucky Lottery President and CEO Tom Delacenserie. “New ticket display arrangements at retail are bearing fruit, and better-executed sales plans are paying dividends.”
“With nearly every one of our games exceeding or nearly exceeding last year’s sales measures, we’re on our way to a successful year. Lots of young people around Kentucky are counting on us to fund their college scholarship and grants – including every dollar of the popular KEES program – and our strong performance benefits them,” said Delacenserie.
From Kentucky Lottery
