State lottery has record 1st quarter with $81M

Friday, October 12, 2012, Vol. 36, No. 41

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Education Lottery Corp. has raised a record $81 million in the first quarter.

That's a 14 percent increase over the same period last fiscal year, which set the previous record with $71 million.

Total lottery funding for education-related programs in Tennessee exceeds $2.47 billion since the lottery's inception in 2004.

According to data from the Tennessee Student Assistance Corp., lottery money has provided more than 600,000 scholarships and grants to in-state educational institutions during that time. More than 100,000 scholarships and grants were provided during the past academic year alone.

Lottery funds are also used to support after-school programs and energy efficiency in schools.