Lottery Profits Down $15 Million Over Three-Month Period

Fiscal 2020 is off to an up-and-down start at the Massachusetts Lottery. Mirroring the results for August, September saw an increase in Lottery sales but a decrease in profit.

Lottery Executive Director Michael Sweeney told the Lottery Commission on Thursday that the Lottery sold $401.3 million worth of its products last month, up $7.6 million from September 2018. But the Lottery's monthly estimated profit was $67.9 million compared to $77.5 million in September 2018.

The Lottery attributed the decline in monthly profit to a $15 million increase in overall prizes paid out ($303 million last month compared to $288 million in September 2018) and a $3.9 million decrease in Mega Millions and Powerball sales.

Of the Lottery's nine products, four — scratch tickets, Keno, Megabucks Doubler and MassCash — saw sales increases last month and five — Powerball, MegaMillions, The Numbers Game, Lucky for Life and All or Nothing — saw sales decline.

Through three months of fiscal year 2020, the Lottery's estimated profit is trailing its mark from fiscal 2019, a record-setting year for the Lottery, by about $15.1 million, Sweeney said. Through three months of fiscal 2020, the Lottery has earned an estimated $241.9 million in net profit.

Last fiscal year, the Lottery counted a record $1.092 billion in profit from a record $5.499 billion in annual revenue.