RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — More and more people are hoping to win big by playing the Virginia Lottery.
On Wednesday, Governor Glenn Youngkin (R-Virginia) announced that in the 12 months that ended on June 30th, the Virginia Lottery sold more than $5.5 billion worth of games in fiscal year 2024, generating $934 million in profit.
“It’s a win for K-12 education,” Youngkin said. “It’s a win for Virginia’s families and Virginia’s kids. It’s a win for Virginia.”
Youngkin added that because lottery profits help fund K-12 education, more money will be going toward retaining teachers and improving technology and student outcomes across Virginia.
“We also have a moment for us to celebrate this level of support for the top priority in the Commonwealth of Virginia which is to make sure that Virginia’s kids get the best education possible,” he said.
However, it’s not all good news. A recent study from the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism points out that state lotteries often disproportionately hurt low-income and minority communities.