RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- The Virginia Lottery earned a record $487 million profit in the fiscal year that ended June 30.
Lottery executive director Paula Otto said Thursday that the profit topped the previous record of just over $455 million set in 2008.
Otto says the unprecedented $656 million Mega Millions jackpot in March was a factor in the improved results. She also cited improved sales of instant scratch-off tickets and growth in the number of lottery retailers.
Ticket sales increased by $133 million, to $1.6 billion.
Lottery players collected $962 million in prizes, an $81 million increase over the previous year.
