RECORD $82 MILLION DIVIDEND TO PEOPLE OF IDAHO

During a public ceremony at Emmett Middle School, the Idaho Lottery commemorated their record-breaking 34th anniversary by returning the single largest dividend in history to the people of Idaho. The Idaho Lottery Commission presented Governor Brad Little with an $82,000,000 dividend check, a 12.3% increase over last year’s dividend.

“The Idaho Lottery makes a difference in every community in Idaho: for our citizens, for our small businesses, and most importantly, where it matters most, in our classrooms. Our schools and the state’s permanent facilities are the real winners. The Idaho Lottery’s Do Good initiatives today will bring continued benefits for tomorrow’s classrooms,” Governor Brad Little said.

Idaho Lottery dividends are used by school districts for building maintenance, repairs, and operational projects. This summer, the Emmett Independent School District concluded safety remediation efforts and is now renovating the original 1957-era restroom facilities on both floors at Emmett Middle School.

“The project being completed at Emmett Middle School is funded, in part, by the Lottery’s dividend to the Emmett Independent School District. We are witnessing the reason why the Idaho Lottery was created by a vote of the people,” said Jeff Anderson, Idaho Lottery Director. “Each year, Lottery dividends deliver meaningful projects, like this one, that improve student safety and can lead to scholastic achievement.”

Governor Little and Idaho Lottery Commission Chairman, Craig Corbett, awarded the largest single check ever from the Idaho Lottery to support public education in the Gem State. Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield accepted a check for $51,250,000. Of this amount, $30,750,000 goes to the School Building Fund Account for maintenance and operations projects and another $20,500,000 goes to the Department of Education’s Bond Levy Equalization Fund to pay the interest on Idaho’s Public School bonds.

“As Idaho’s schools age and costs of maintenance continue to grow, Idaho Lottery funds play a crucial role in ensuring facility safety for our students, staff, and patrons,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield. “Communities across Idaho will enjoy the benefits brought by funding from the Idaho Lottery. Thank you.”

Dale Reynolds, Chairman of the Permanent Building Fund Advisory Council, accepted a check for $30,750,000 on behalf of the State’s Permanent Building Fund. Permanent Building Fund dollars support maintenance and capital projects for State-owned facilities and Idaho’s public college and university buildings.

"The Idaho Lottery continually exceeds expectations to provide meaningful and necessary funding to support the Permanent Building Fund,” said Reynolds. “With the support of these dividends, we provide essential maintenance, repair, and facility enhancements that promote education and support our state infrastructure of buildings.”

This year’s dividend comes after the single largest sales year for the Idaho Lottery, exceeding $422 million in revenue for the first time.

“This is all made possible with funds from the Idaho Lottery, not tax dollars,” added Anderson.

In addition to the dividend and sales records, the Idaho Lottery also awarded a record amount in prizes to players worth $285.9 million, and the Lottery’s network of 1,200 brick and mortar retail locations earned a record $24.7 million in commissions.

Director’s Corner

Greetings,

On July 18th during a ceremony at Emmett Middle School, I had the privilege of returning this year’s annual Lottery dividend to Governor Little and the people of Idaho. It was $82 million, a new Lottery record and a 12.3% increase over last year.

On the anniversary of our Lottery, we upheld the reason we were created thirty-four years ago. We had a singular Do Good mission: to responsibly provide the largest dividend possible to the state for the benefit of public education and the State’s permanent buildings.

Today, our Do Good programs have grown to four. In addition to the dividend, we also have Scratch for Schools, Classroom Wishlist, and Bucks for Books. Beyond this year’s record dividend, the Idaho Lottery’s three recent Do Good programs have touched more Idaho public schools than ever before. This is why we do what we do…meaningful contributions to 540 school projects for a combined $326,000. These efforts make a difference in the classroom and, more importantly, in the hearts and minds of our educators and children.

What was true in 1989 when we began is every bit as important now as it was then – every play pays – our players, our good causes we support, our vendors, and YOU!

Your hard work, responsible sales, and dedication produced more retailer commissions earned than in any other year – nearly $25 million, one transaction at a time. That’s now over $300 million since our first ticket was sold on July 19, 1989.

For the year that was and for the year ahead, thank you for your support. Happy Selling!