Giving Back to Virginia Public Schools
At the Virginia Lottery, we take playing seriously. Fun matters. Excitement matters.
And so does the education of Virginia's youngest residents. It's the reason we play so enthusiastically.
Every time you scratch a ticket, play online or pick your numbers for the big jackpot, you are creating winners in education all over Virginia.
Last year, the Lottery contributed more than $867 million to Virginia's public schools, more than $2.3 million per day.
The Lottery works for education
In Fiscal Year 2023, the Virginia Lottery had sales of more than $4.6 billion. Of this total, the Lottery generated more than $867 million for K-12 public education; more than $3.4 billion went back to players in the form of prizes, more than $137 million went to the retailers who sell Virginia Lottery tickets, and $195 million went to operational expenses.
Since 1999, all Virginia Lottery profits have been used for K-12 public education in Virginia. On this page, you can find the breakdown of historical Lottery sales figures. Below that data, you can see how much of the FY2022 profits were given to each public-school division in Virginia.
When Virginians voted in 1987 for a state-operated lottery, some people may have assumed that they voted on how to spend the Lottery's proceeds. This was not the case. Lottery proceeds were to be used as determined by the General Assembly. The use of the proceeds has changed over time. In 1989, Lottery proceeds were dedicated to capital-construction projects. From 1990 to 1998, Lottery proceeds were transferred to the state's General Fund. Starting in 1999, a state budget amendment sent Lottery proceeds to local public-school divisions to be used solely for educational purposes. In 2000, more than 80% of Virginia voters said yes to the creation of the State Lottery Proceeds Fund. The measure, now a permanent part of Virginia's Constitution, directs all Virginia Lottery profits to be used solely for educational purposes.
If you have an organization and would like a Virginia Lottery spokesperson to speak with your group about the Lottery’s benefit to education, just e-mail us at speakers@valottery.com.
Virginia Lottery Revenue Distribution
Results are unofficial until audited
| Fiscal Year | Sales | Prizes | Retailer Compensation | Operating Expenses | Proceeds* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $4.612 b | $3.416 b | $137.3 m | $194.8 m | $867.4 m |
| 2022 | $3.752 b | $2.677 b | $138.6 m | $158.2 m | $779.6 m |
| 2021 | $3.259 b | $2.206 b | $139.3 m | $147.4 m | $766.7 m |
| 2020 | $2.149 b | $1.318 b | $120.7 m | $116.9 m | $595.3 m |
| 2019 | $2.293 b | $1.402 b | $128.7 m | $115.6 m | $649.7 m |
| 2018 |
$2.139 b | $1.307 b | $121.3 m | $105.5 m | $606.2 m |
| 2017 | $1.990 b | $1.214 b | $112.0 m | $106.3 m | $558.3 m |
| 2016 | $2.007 b | $1.208 b | $112.7 m | $98.7 m | $588.2 m |
| 2015 | $1.844 b | $1.116 b | $103.9 m | $90.8 m | $533.8 m |
| 2014 | $1.811 b | $1.082 b | $101.5 m | $89.7 m | $538.6 m |
| 2013 | $1.689 b | $1.025 b | $95.0 m | $84.1 m | $486.5 m |
| 2012 | $1.616 b | $962.3 m | $90.7 m | $77.9 m | $487.1 m |
| 2011 | $1.482 b | $881.0 m | $83.8 m | $74.9 m | $444.2 m |
| 2010 | $1.435 b | $852.7 m | $80.4 m | $73.8 m | $430.2 m |
| 2009 | $1.365 b | $781.0 m | $76.9 m | $73.7 m | $439.1 m |
| 2008 | $1.386 b | $792.3 m | $77.7 m | $73.7 m | $455.3 m |
| 2007 | $1.362 b | $791.7 m | $76.4 m | $68.0 m | $437.1 m |
| 2006 | $1.365 b | $773.5 m | $76.2 m | $69.7 m | $454.9 m |
| 2005 | $1.333 b | $774.6 m | $75.6 m | $66.2 m | $423.5 m |
| 2004 | $1.262 b | $720.2 m | $70.7 m | $68.1 m | $408.1 m |
| 2003 | $1.135 b | $638.1 m | $63.0 m | $69.3 m | $375.2 m |
| 2002 | $1.108 b | $613.7 m | $62.2 m | $75.2 m | $367.7 m |
| 2001 | $1.002 b | $557.3 m | $55.9 m | $73.1 m | $329.1 m |
| 2000 | $973.0 m | $537.3 m | $55.2 m | $67.2 m | $323.5 m |
| 1999 | $934.5 m | $506.9 m | $52.1 m | $68.8 m | $321.9 m |
| 1998 | $914.2 m | $503.8 m | $49.5 m | $69.8 m | $318.9 m |
| 1997 | $920.8 m | $475.5 m | $49.5 m | $64.8 m | $342.5 m |
| 1996 | $924.3 m | $489.6 m | $49.1 m | $64.1 m | $332.6 m |
| 1995 | $902.5 m | $487.3 m | $48.4 m | $65.6 m | $311.6 m |
| 1994 | $875.5 m | $465.6 m | $47.5 m | $65.8 m | $303.5 m |
| 1993 | $843.4 m | $444.7 m | $45.0 m | $63.5 m | $297.0 m |
| 1992 | $846.6 m | $454.3 m | $45.2 m | $64.5 m | $290.8 m |
| 1991 | $790.3 m | $421.0 m | $41.9 m | $53.3 m | $294.5 m |
| 1990 | $474.8 m | $252.4 m | $24.7 m | $43.1 m | $156.5 m |
| 1989 | $409.1 m | $205.9 m | $20.6 m | $41.6 m | $140.5 m |
| TOTAL |
$53.2 billion |
$32.4 billion | $2.7 billion | $2.9 billion | $15.5 billion |
*Not all proceeds earned in a fiscal year are appropriated in that year.
Making a difference in your community
| School Division | FY 2023 |
|---|---|
| Accomack County Public Schools | $6,128,966 |
| Albemarle County Public Schools | $4,518,235 |
| Alexandria City Public Schools | $4,165,605 |
| Alleghany County Public Schools | $2,719,185 |
| Amelia County Public Schools | $1,301,475 |
| Amherst County Public Schools | $3,681,463 |
| Appomattox County Public Schools | $2,058,729 |
| Arlington City Public Schools | $5,028,155 |
| Augusta County Public Schools | $7,189,511 |
| Bath County Public Schools | $303,337 |
| Bedford County Public Schools | $5,532,579 |
| Bland County Public Schools | $528,588 |
| Botetourt County Public Schools | $1,935,300 |
| Bristol City Public Schools | $2,269,948 |
| Brunswick County Public Schools | $1,024,672 |
| Buchanan County Public Schools | $2,595,925 |
| Buckingham County Public Schools | $1,827,973 |
| Buena Vista City Public Schools | $976,365 |
| Campbell County Public Schools | $6,563,365 |
| Caroline County Public Schools | $3,279,622 |
| Carroll County Public Schools | $3,278,267 |
| Charles City County Public Schools | $519,596 |
| Charlotte County Public Schools | $1,493,537 |
| Charlottesville City Public Schools | $2,245,576 |
| Chesapeake City Public Schools | $27,281,596 |
| Chesterfield County Public Schools | $33,661,243 |
| Clarke County Public Schools | $538,746 |
| Colonial Beach City Public Schools | $590,789 |
| Colonial Heights City Public Schools | $2,117,740 |
| Craig County Public Schools | $553,502 |
| Culpeper County Public Schools | $5,842,358 |
| Cumberland County Public Schools | $1,844,188 |
| Danville City Public Schools | $8,142,253 |
| Dickenson County Public Schools | $2,164,810 |
| Dinwiddie County Public Schools | $3,707,107 |
| Emporia City Public Schools | $1,085,101 |
| Essex County Public Schools | $1,075,151 |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | $48,539,067 |
| Fairfax City Public Schools | $383,111 |
| Falls Church City Public Schools | $356,514 |
| Fauquier County Public Schools | $3,928,823 |
| Floyd County Public Schools | $1,312,697 |
| Fluvanna County Public Schools | $2,467,793 |
| Franklin County Public Schools | $4,771,185 |
| Franklin City Public Schools | $1,559,291 |
| Frederick County Public Schools | $7,115,225 |
| Fredericksburg City Public Schools | $2,176,022 |
| Galax City Public Schools | $1,360,849 |
| Giles County Public Schools | $2,742,782 |
| Gloucester County Public Schools | $2,782,415 |
| Goochland County Public Schools | $480,487 |
| Grayson County Public Schools | $1,586,326 |
| Greene County Public Schools | $2,415,994 |
| Greensville County Public Schools | $1,201,929 |
| Halifax County Public Schools | $4,478,705 |
| Hampton City Public Schools | $19,743,065 |
| Hanover County Public Schools | $6,760,284 |
| Harrisonburg City Public Schools | $7,561,357 |
| Henrico County Public Schools | $30,777,055 |
| Henry County Public Schools | $7,803,973 |
| Highland County Public Schools | $1,076,306 |
| Hopewell City Public Schools | $5,106,677 |
| Isle Of Wight County Public Schools | $3,265,369 |
| James City County Public Schools | $4,236,789 |
| King George County Public Schools | $2,032,094 |
| King Queen County Public Schools | $904,145 |
| King William County Public Schools | $1,487,446 |
| Lancaster County Public Schools | $484,479 |
| Lee County Public Schools | $3,648,856 |
| Lexington City Public Schools | $248,372 |
| Loudoun County Public Schools | $23,720,505 |
| Louisa County Public Schools | $3,102,733 |
| Lunenburg County Public Schools | $1,653,236 |
| Lynchburg City Public Schools | $8,646,370 |
| Madison County Public Schools | $832,996 |
| Manassas City Public Schools | $6,461,950 |
| Manassas Park City Public Schools | $4,052,007 |
| Martinsville City Public Schools | $2,844,045 |
| Mathews County Public Schools | $466,579 |
| Mecklenburg County Public Schools | $3,066,731 |
| Middlesex County Public Schools | $613,734 |
| Montgomery County Public Schools | $5,348,734 |
| Nelson County Public Schools | $837,503 |
| New Kent County Public Schools | $1,241,984 |
| Newport News City Public Schools | $33,566,102 |
| Norfolk City Public Schools | $28,274,778 |
| Northampton County Public Schools | $1,841,567 |
| Northumberland County Public Schools | $531,252 |
| Norton City Public Schools | $916,285 |
| Nottoway County Public Schools | $2,501,389 |
| Orange County Public Schools | $3,255,369 |
| Page County Public Schools | $3,015,423 |
| Patrick County Public Schools | $2,381,922 |
| Petersburg City Public Schools | $7,142,138 |
| Pittsylvania County Public Schools | $7,201,664 |
| Poquoson City Public Schools | $887,698 |
| Portsmouth City Public Schools | $16,478,876 |
| Powhatan County Public Schools | $1,475,396 |
| Prince Edward County Public Schools | $2,085,806 |
| Prince George County Public Schools | $4,061,841 |
| Prince William County Public Schools | $57,411,246 |
| Pulaski County Public Schools | $3,442,601 |
| Radford City Public Schools | $2,216,682 |
| Rappahannock County Public Schools | $635,788 |
| Richmond County Public Schools | $1,464,673 |
| Richmond City Public Schools | $21,055,953 |
| Roanoke County Public Schools | $6,790,778 |
| Roanoke City Public Schools | $19,031,537 |
| Rockbridge County Public Schools | $1,350,768 |
| Rockingham County Public Schools | $7,583,827 |
| Russell County Public Schools | $4,468,518 |
| Salem City Public Schools | $2,426,960 |
| Scott County Public Schools | $4,867,254 |
| Shenandoah County Public Schools | $4,355,565 |
| Smyth County Public Schools | $4,474,592 |
| Southampton County Public Schools | $2,572,058 |
| Spotsylvania County Public Schools | $14,676,189 |
| Stafford County Public Schools | $16,234,899 |
| Staunton City Public Schools | $1,940,646 |
| Suffolk City Public Schools | $10,334,916 |
| Surry County Public Schools | $353,087 |
| Sussex County Public Schools | $1,455,371 |
| Tazewell County Public Schools | $5,042,374 |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools | $34,892,213 |
| Warren County Public Schools | $3,056,936 |
| Washington County Public Schools | $5,299,204 |
| Waynesboro City Public Schools | $3,204,972 |
| West Point Town Public Schools | $457,250 |
| Westmoreland County Public Schools | $1,542,970 |
| Williamsburg City Public Schools | $481,621 |
| Winchester City Public Schools | $3,656,868 |
| Wise County Public Schools | $6,053,351 |
| Wythe County Public Schools | $3,347,860 |
| York County Public Schools | $5,391,720 |
Lottery Proceeds Fund balances are distributed by the Virginia Department of Education in accordance with the approved state budget. Details are included in the current year’s Appropriation Act in the Office of Education Budget.
Literary Fund
By law, all unclaimed Virginia Lottery prizes go to the Literary Fund, which provides low-interest loans to localities for public-school construction, renovations and technology upgrades. The Lottery transferred $12.6 million to the Literary Fund in Fiscal Year 2023. Since 1988, the Lottery has transferred more than $350 million in unclaimed prizes to the Literary Fund.
Set-Off Debt Collection Act
The Lottery also participates in the Setoff Debt Collection Act, in which prize payments are withheld to pay certain obligations that the prizewinner owes. Examples of these obligations are state and federal taxes, child support and tuition from state universities or colleges. The Virginia Lottery collected more than $8 million in FY2023 and has collected a total of more than $56 million since 1988.
Where Virginia Lottery Profits Go
Since 1999, all Virginia Lottery profits have been used for public education in the Commonwealth, for Kindergarten through 12th grade.
