The Maryland Lottery on Tuesday reported setting records for fiscal-year sales — nearly $2 billion — and for prizes paid to players.
Lottery sales of $1.9 billion for the year ending June 30 were buoyed by the continued growth of scratch-offs, also called instant tickets.
Sales of scratch-offs grew by double-digit rates for the third straight year, totaling $676.8 million — a 10.7 percent increase over the 2016 fiscal year. The tickets are called “instant” because players can find out immediately if they won.
“Growing instant ticket sales has been one of the Lottery’s top priorities,” Lottery director Gordon Medenica said in a written statement. “We’re enthusiastic about the direction we’re headed, and we believe there is still untapped revenue potential with scratch-offs.”
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