March Saw Record Lottery Sales, Recovered Shutdown Losses
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The $640 million Mega Millions jackpot helped drive March's record-breaking lottery sales, the Minnesota State Lottery said.
March broke the previous record by bringing in $61.6 million, which is a 12 percent increase over the last record month.
Lottery director Ed Van Petten said record scratch sales of nearly $40 million also helped the sales record.
"We have now caught up the entire amount lost in sales during the shutdown, plus about $4 million," he said.
NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Susie Jones Reports
Podcast
Van Petten said if sales continue at the current pace, they will exceed the record $504.5 million dollars set last year.
He credits the hard work of the staff for the results.
Since its inception in April of 1990, the Lottery has contributed more than $2 billion to state programs that benefit all Minnesotans.