Each time the Powerball jackpot increases, ticket sales increase accordingly. Every day, a lot of money comes out of regular citizens to try their luck in the lotteries. As outlined by data from the North American State and Territory Lottery Association, People in the United States spent more than $73 billion on lotto tickets in the year 2015 alone.

With this much money going into the lotteries, regardless of the region like the Bandar Online Lotteries in Malaysia or the Powerball in many States in the United States, the question arises as to how the revenue from lotteries is spent? Is it going to private companies, government funds? Who truly benefits from lottery money?

How Revenue From The Lottery Is Distributed?

Generally, lottery revenue is divided into three categories: payment to winners and commissions from ticket sales companies, air ticket fees, and distribution to ticket sales states.

Most of the funds raised in the lottery (usually about 50% – 60%) are allocated to the winners, including sizeable jackpots and smaller prizes for corresponding to lesser lottery figures. Retailers likewise get ticket sales commissions and cuts from sales of jackpot lottery winnings, which is still 5% of lottery revenue.

Approximately 10% of the lotto revenue is used to pay for the management and general expenses of lottery operations and management. Advertising, employee wages, legal expenses, receipt printing, and other needs are all covered in this category.

All the other lottery income will flow to the participating states. For example, in Powerball lotteries, funds are allocated based on ticket sales-states that sold more tickets to get a higher percentage of income. The proceeds from the national lottery are used exclusively for the host country.

In the year 2015, the United States Census Committee approximated that state-owned lotteries placed more than $21 million in state coffers2, and did not even consider income from huge multi-state lotteries such as Mega Millions and Powerball.

How do the participating States use the money?

What Do The States Do With The Revenue Coming From The Lottery?

Every State participating in the lottery can choose how to implement the funds raised via the lottery fund and other legal betting systems such as sports betting.

The majority of states spend small amounts of money from lottery tickets to manage issues of gambling addiction. Some have likewise invested a certain proportion of lottery funds in the general fund, which can be useful to solve budget shortages in crucial to public use such as roads, police, and social works.

The remaining is generally invested in public functions, in most cases the educational structure. Fourteen states require that all lottery earnings be invested in education, possibly through community school financing or in school scholarship grants or programs.