Lottery Sales Pass $500 Million

In its sixth year of operation, the Idaho Lottery has passed the $500 million mark in sales and has handed out $300 million in prize winnings.

Lottery Director Dennis Jackson said Wednesday said lottery sales halfway through fiscal year 1996 are $41 million, up about 9 percent from the same point last year.

Lottery sales last year were a record $88 million, which produced a payout of $19 million divided between public buildings and school districts.

Jackson said with the next dividend payout, the state will have received more than $100 million from the lottery.

In June, a Boise woman, Pam Hiatt, won $87 million playing Idaho Powerball.

The Idaho Lottery plans to acquire new computer hardware and software, to create faster-paced and more interactive scratch games and install additional instant ticket vending machines.

Jackson also said there will be more focus on break-open games.