The Maryland Lottery broke a sales record for the 14th consecutive year in fiscal 2011, generating $1.7 billion in sales, the agency said Monday. The lottery contributed $519 million to the state's general fund, an increase of $8.86 million over the last fiscal year, to go toward education, public safety, health and environmental programs.
The agency said it was the fourth-largest contributor to the general fund, after sales, income and corporate taxes.
Lottery retailers earned commissions of $113.7 million, while prizes totaled more than $1.03 billion.
Multistate jackpot games Mega Millions and Powerball generated $159.3 million in sales, while all jackpot games — which also include Bonus Match 5 and Multi-Match — totaled $208.7 million.
Monitor games — which include Keno, Keno Bonus, Keno Super Bonus, Racetrax and Racetrax Bonus — had combined sales of $496.7 million, an increase of nearly $4.7 million from last fiscal year.