TOPEKA, KAN. – In a year already marked with much celebration, its 25th anniversary year, the Kansas Lottery has achieved a new record for sales. Sales of Lottery products in Fiscal Year 2012, which began July 1, 2011 and ended June 30, 2012, were nearly $244 million (unaudited).

Executive Director Dennis Wilson says the Kansas Lottery will transfer $72 million to the State in FY12, the highest transfer in a single year since the Lottery started selling tickets in 1987.

Prizes paid also hit a new record mark at $137.5 million.

The recently ended fiscal year also saw the opening of two additional casinos with state-owned gaming to join Boot Hill Casino in Dodge City.  Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane and Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, combined with Boot Hill to transfer $43.4 million to the Expanded Lottery Act Revenues Fund – another record for the Kansas Lottery.

The Problem Gambling and Addictions Grant Fund and local governments will each receive records amounts also, with transfers of $3.9 and $5.9 million, respectively.

Where Does the Money Go?

Traditional lottery revenue goes into the State Gaming Revenues Fund. On a yearly basis, the first $50 million is divided by a formula which first transfers $80,000 to the Problem Gambling and Addictions Grant Fund. Then 85 percent of the balance is transferred to the Economic Development Initiatives Fund, 10 percent to the Correctional Institutions Building Fund, and 5 percent to the Juvenile Detention Facilities Fund. Any receipts in excess of $50 million must be transferred to the State General Fund.

The 2007 Kansas Expanded Lottery Act created the Expanded Lottery Act Revenues Fund (ELARF). The state’s share of revenue from state-owned and -operated casino gaming is transferred from the ELARF for purposes of reduction of state debt, state infrastructure improvements and reduction of local ad valorem tax, and/or for such other purposes as directed by the Kansas legislature.