Delaware lottery sets new sales record

2014 was a lucky year for the Delaware Lottery. 

Lottery officials announced a record $148,354,564 in sales this fiscal year for its traditional games, which include Powerball, Mega Millions, Instant Games and Keno. That represents a 2.71 percent increase over last year.

Lottery Director Vernon Kirk said record sales for Instant Games and the “exceptional performance” of Mega Millions contributed to this fiscal year’s milestone. Additionally, the number of retailers selling traditional game products jumped from 535 stores in 2011 to the current total of 655.

“The success we achieved in Fiscal Year 2014 is the outcome of the groundwork laid over the past few years,” Kirk said. “We will continue to look for new ways to offer products and winning experiences that our players want in an effort to build a better gaming future in Delaware.” 

Officials with the lottery said sales have been climbing since 1994 when the Delaware Lottery broke $100 million in annual sales. The previous sales record was set in 1999 at $145.86 million. 

Since operations started in 1975, the Delaware Lottery has contributed more than $4.1 billion to the state’s General Fund to help pay for state services.