The sum of the TLC’s sales in FY 2021 was $8.1 billion, indicating an approximate 2.3 percent increase.
Executive Director Gary Grief stated that the TLC has “contributed” nearly almost $2 billion in revenue to the state’s coffers.
“The Texas Lottery is one of only a handful of U.S. lotteries to experience sales growth in traditional lottery scratch ticket and draw game products over the last fiscal year,” Grief said.
“Despite competing with the return of many entertainment options after the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as increasing inflation, this latest sales record was buoyed by two major milestones — the launch of the U.S. lottery industry’s first $100 scratch ticket game in May 2022, as well as the advertised $1.28 billion Mega Millions jackpot for the July 29, 2022 drawing.”
Scratch ticket sales accounted for $6.73 billion of the total and $1.57 billion were from draw games.
The week of the $1.33 billion Mega Millions jackpot drawing in July, the TLC reported $264 million in sales, a record for total sales in one week.
In FY 2022, a total of $1.97 billion was contributed to Texas public schools and another $26 million to veterans’ causes. Administrative costs for the Texas Lottery amounted to $288 million or just over 3 percent of the sales. The commission spent $5.66 billion paying winners of the games.
There are 20,720 retailers that offer the Texas Lottery’s games. Including incentive programs and compensation, the commission paid $441.6 million to its retailers, per the TLC.
Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1991 authorizing the state’s lottery after the 72nd Legislature and Gov. Ann Richards enacted a law during a special session to establish the TLC.
Richards was the last Democratic governor of Texas. Beto O’Rourke, the Democratic nominee for governor in November’s general election, has stated his support for loosening the Lone Star State’s gambling laws, including placing casino legalization on the ballot.
The Texas House voted in 2013 to abolish the TLC after opponents characterized it as similar to a regressive tax. However, lawmakers reversed the decision later the same day.
The state’s lottery is one of the few exceptions to the prohibition on most forms of gambling in the Texas Constitution.
A copy of the news release can be found below.
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Hayden Sparks
Hayden Sparks is a senior reporter for The Texan and a lifelong resident of the Lone Star State. He has coached competitive speech and debate and has been involved in politics since a young age. One of Hayden's favorite quotes is by Sam Houston: "Texas has yet to learn submission to any oppression, come from what source it may."
