Georgia Lottery sets record

The Georgia Lottery generated a record $731.3 million in profit during the first half of the last fiscal year, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Thursday.

July through December of last year marked the most profitable first half of a fiscal year for the lottery since its inception in 1993. That strong showing followed a record fiscal 2020 that allowed the Georgia Lottery Corp. to contribute more than $1.23 billion to Georgia’s HOPE Scholarships pre-kindergarten programs.

“This record success is great news for students in communities throughout Georgia,” Kemp said. “Georgia Lottery’s continued success ensures that Georgia’s students and families remain the ultimate winners.”

L ottery President and CEO Gretchen Corbin said a solid first half of fiscal 2021 provides momentum for the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends June 30.

“Since its first year, the lottery has returned more than $23 billion to the state for education. More than 1.9 million students have received HOPE, and more than 1.6 million 4-year-olds have attended the statewide, voluntary pre-kindergarten program.