The Massachusetts State Lottery Made More Money Than Ever Last Fiscal Year

BOSTON (CBS) – Even as casinos open up across the commonwealth, the Massachusetts State Lottery just had its best year ever. The Lottery announced Thursday it made a net profit of $1.104 billion for cities and towns in the last fiscal year.

It's the highest net profit total for the Lottery in its 48-year history. The previous record was $1.039 billion in 2017.

Overall, the Lottery brought in $5.509 billion, while paying out a record $3.987 billion in prizes. That includes 202 prizes valued at $1 million or more. Lottery retailers earned $314 million in commissions and bonuses.

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"Lottery profits provide critical unrestricted aid for all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth," said Treasurer Deb Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission, in a statement. "I am proud of our Lottery team and our dedicated retail partners. Over the last three years, together, they have produced more than $3 billion that directly supports our local communities."

The Lottery attributed the increase to "a combination of interest earnings, multi-state game prize settlements and other revenues, including season ticket subscriptions and license renewals."