Here’s how much money MS Lottery has paid for state highways and education in 5 years
Those scratch cards and jackpot drawing tickets are making a big impact on the Coast and across the state as the Mississippi Lottery celebrates its fifth anniversary.
Each month, proceeds from the state and national lottery games are transferred to the general fund from Mississippi Lottery Corp.
In October, that was $8.95 million, which was directed to repair roads and bridges in the state.
Starting with the new fiscal year on July 1 each year, the first $80 million in proceeds goes toward roads. Once that is reached, the money flows into the Education Enhancement Fund that pays for for classroom supplies, materials and equipment at schools across the state.
Over the five years, the lottery transferred $615 million to the state, or an average of more than $100 million a year.
Of that:
- $427 million was allocated to roads and bridges
- $188 million went to the education fund
Mississippi Lottery is celebrating the fifth anniversary with new games. The $20 My Lottery Dream Home scratch-off ticket, includes a $1 million second chance drawing. New scratch-off games area $5 ticket, 5 Times the Joy ticket with a top prize of $100,000 and a $2 High Roller ticket with a top prize of $20,000.
The lottery posted on Facebook recently that two top prizes of $100,000 are still to be found in the Cruisin’ The Coast scratch game.
No more drives to Louisiana
The lottery started with scratch games when it debuted in October 2019.
South Mississippi residents continued to drive to Louisiana a few months longer to buy Powerball and Mega Million tickets when jackpots soared. In January 2020, Mississippi became one of the last states to allow the national draw games.
Mississippi is still waiting for a jackpot winner in either game, but a player won $4 million on a Mega Millions ticket purchased in Hines County in 2023.
South MS loves the lottery
The latest annual report from Mississippi lottery in fiscal year 2023 shows Jackson County had the second largest lottery sales in the state and Harrison County the third most.
The report shows 66% of the sales in the state come from scratch tickets and Moss Point convenience stores are by far the most popular places to play the lottery in South Mississippi.
Boosting jackpots with higher price tickets
Those dreaming of winning a “life-changing” jackpot will have to pay more than double the price next year to play Mega Millions,
Starting in April, the price of a Mega Millions ticket will increase from $2 to $5, with the multiplier built in.
The company says the increase in price will lead to improved odds to win the jackpot, larger starting jackpots and bigger jackpots more frequently.
