ALBUQUERQUE –The New Mexico Lottery announced FY 2017 proceeds of $37.8 million for the Legislative Lottery Scholarship fund.
David Barden, New Mexico Lottery CEO said, “Fiscal Year 2017 represents an $8.5 million decline in transfers compared to Fiscal Year 2016. This news is very troubling for both students and Lottery players as it not only represents a decline in scholarship assistance, but also resulted in less winnings for players. This year’s reduced transfer is the result of several law changes enacted in 2007.”
Lottery Chairman, Dan Salzwedel, explained, “While the statutory changes were well-intentioned, they have had a long-term, negative impact on the Lottery’s ability to maximize revenue for students. Unless statutory changes are addressed, the Lottery cannot produce a growing and predictable source of funding each year, as is evidenced by this year’s $8.5 million reduction in transfer.”
Barden said, “The New Mexico Lottery’s ability to maximize scholarship dollars for students has been severely hampered by the 30% return mandate, coupled with an increase in contract fees. New Mexico has one of the lowest prize payouts in the country for Scratcher games. Online draw games (Powerball®, Mega Millions®) have experienced jackpot fatigue, resulting in less revenue. And, because our contract periods have been shortened by statutory changes, the Lottery has also experienced additional contract expenses of approximately $2 million a year.”
“And yet, for over a decade, lotteries across the nation have had robust financial growth for their beneficiaries, while the New Mexico Lottery has been stagnating,” said Barden. “Players want games that have winning experiences and failure to increase prizes in Scratcher games will get students similar results every year. Change is inevitable. It is clear we need to rethink everything. If we don’t, students will continue to lose as educational costs continue to increase.”
The year’s net sales were approximately $126 million, down $28.3 million (18.3%) from last year. From net sales, players won $67.2 million and retailers earned $8.2 million for selling tickets and cashing prizes.
| Game |
FY 2016 Net Sales (audited, rounded) |
FY 2017 Net Sales (unaudited, rounded) |
$/Percent Change |
| Scratchers™ | $83,106,000 | $72,399,000 | -$10,707,000/-12.88% |
| Powerball® | $43,322,000 | $26,329,000 | -$16,993,000/-39.22% |
| Mega Millions® | $10,509,000 | $9,656,000 | -$853,000/-8.12% |
| Roadrunner Cash™ | $7,395,000 | $7,141,000 | -$254,000/-3.43% |
| Hot Lotto® | $4,283,000 | $4,294,000 | $11,000/0.25% |
| Pick 3® | $4,891,000 | $5,365,000 | $474,000/9.69% |
| Quicksters™ | $692,000 | $741,000 | $49,000/7.16% |
| Lucky Numbers Bingo™ | $147,000 | $116,000 | -$31,000/-21.39% |
| Total | $154,345,000 | $126,041,000 | -$28,304,000/-18.34% |
Since 1996, the New Mexico Lottery has raised $738.7 million for education and more than 109,000 students have attended college on Legislative Lottery Scholarships.
More information about Legislative Lottery Scholarships is available at www.nmlottery.com.
New Mexico Lottery Gross Revenues and Net Revenues
FY 1996 through FY 2017
GROSS NET REVENUES FOR
REVENUES*** PUBLIC EDUCATION***
FY ’96 (*) $28.5 Million $6.3 Million
FY ’97 $82.4 Million ↑ $21.9 Million ↑
FY ’98 $85.4 Million ↑ $20.1 Million ↓
FY ’99 $89.7 Million ↑ $19.6 Million ↓
FY ’00 $111.2 Million ↑ $24.5 Million ↑
FY ’01 $113.7 Million ↑ $25.9 Million ↑
FY ’02 $129.5 Million ↑ $29.6 Million ↑
FY ’03 $133.6 Million ↑ $33.1 Million ↑
FY ’04 $142.6 Million ↑ $35.9 Million ↑
FY ’05 $134.7 Million ↓ $32.2 Million ↓
FY ’06 $150.6 Million ↑ $36.9 Million ↑
FY ’07 $148.8 Million ↓ $34.8 Million ↓
FY ’08 $147.8 Million ↓ $40.8 Million ↑
FY ’09 $142.6 Million ↓ $40.8 Million →
FY ’10 $143.6 Million ↑ $43.6 Million ↑
FY ’11 $135.6 Million ↓ $41.3 Million ↓
FY ’12 $133.9 Million ↓ $41.3 Million →
FY ’13 $141.8 Million ↑ $43.7 Million ↑
FY ’14 $136.1 Million ↓ $40.9 Million ↓
FY ’15 $137.1 Million ↑ $41.1 Million ↑
FY ’16 $154.4 Million ↑ $46.3 Million ↑
FY ’17 (**) $126.1 Million ↓ $37.8 Million ↓
TOTALS (***) $2.75 Billion $738.7 Million
Lottery Tuition Fund: $672,162,064 (1996 through FY 2017)
Public School Capital Outlay Fund: $66,553,850 (1996 to 2001)
Raised for public education through FY 2017: $738,715,914 (1996 through FY 2017)
(*) represents partial fiscal year
(**) preliminary and unaudited
(***) rounded