Prizes and Profits Up
ALBUQUERQUE – New Mexico Lottery net sales increased 11 percent in the first half of the 2013 fiscal year.
Net sales between July 1 and Dec. 31 came to approximately $69.9 million, an increase of $7 million compared to net sales of $62.9 million from the same time last year.
Players also won more. In the past six months, players won approximately $31.4 million. In comparison, players won $28.4 million in the first half of the previous fiscal year.
Mid-year profits for the Legislative Lottery Scholarship program are higher at $21.2 million, compared to $19.1 million a year ago.
New Mexico Lottery CEO Tom Romero said the increase in sales, prizes and profits is the result of new strategies that helped reach more players more frequently, especially when Powerball® reached a record jackpot of $587 million in November.
“Players heard our messages, got excited and came out to play,” Romero said.
The lottery’s goal is to sell $135 million in tickets and raise $40.5 million for Legislative Lottery Scholarships during the 2013 fiscal year, which will end June 30.
“We are on track to hit our goals,” Romero said, “and we will take every responsible measure to promote lottery games on behalf of students dreaming of a college education.”
In the past five fiscal years, the New Mexico Lottery has returned record-breaking scholarship revenues. In fiscal year 2012, the New Mexico Lottery delivered $41.3 million to the scholarship program, its second-highest return ever. Since 1996, the New Mexico Lottery has raised $550 million for education and more than 82,600 students have attended college on Legislative Lottery Scholarships. By law, the lottery is required to return at least 30 percent of gross revenues every month to the Legislative Lottery Scholarship program.
Information about Legislative Lottery Scholarships is available at www.nmlottery.com.
Follow the New Mexico Lottery on Facebook (www.facebook.com/nmlottery) and YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/NewMexicoLottery).