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TagsHas provided $49.6 billion in winnings and $20 billion in revenue to the state
The New Jersey Lottery is celebrating its 40th anniversary Thursday and officials are citing its role in providing funding for critical state government programs.
Lottery officials Wednesday pointed out that over the last four decades, lottery players have won more than $49.6 billion in cash and prizes, the state has collected $20 billion in lottery-generated revenue to pay for educational needs and programs that benefit New Jersey residents. And Lottery retailers have earned over $2 billion in commissions.
"From modest beginnings in the early months of 1970, the Lottery has grown into an institution that is part of the very fabric of New Jersey life," Lottery Acting Director
Carole Hedinger said. "In addition to making it possible to fund vital educational programs and state-operated institutions through good years and bad, the dollars lottery players spend flow directly back into our communities, supporting more than 6,100 small and large businesses that operate as New Jersey Lottery retailers."Just as important, the lottery has made life in the Garden State a little more exciting and fun." Hedinger added. "Last year alone, players won more than 100 million times, taking home over $1.5 billion in cash and prizes."
New Jersey voters created the Lottery in late 1969 when they approved a ballot question by an 81.5% majority, one of the largest margins for a ballot measure in state history. The first lottery ticket was sold on Dec. 16, 1970, to Gov. William T. Cahill during the same week when weekly game tickets went on sale at 2,000 agent locations throughout the state.
"It's safe to say the New Jersey Lottery has greatly surpassed the expectations of those 1969 voters, generating over $2.6 billion in 2010 and providing funding for state programs without the need to raise taxes," Hedinger said. "It's created millions of lucky winners, including many multi-millionaires. I'm proud to lead such a worthwhile exciting and fun organization."
During the Lottery's 40 years of operation, winners have provided moments of both great excitement and suspense.
There was Melvin Milligan, who claimed his BIG GAME ticket worth $46 million, just two days before it expired in June 2001. Sandra McNeil won an unbelievable $211.7 million Powerball jackpot on March 13. And Harold and Helen Lerner won the largest annuity jackpot in New Jersey history on Sept. 15, 2005, when they won a Mega Millions drawing worth $258 million.
"But the best thing about the lottery," Hedinger said, "is that it makes every New Jersey resident a winner, especially the most vulnerable among us."
Lottery proceeds have gone to veterans homes, colleges and universities, school nutrition programs, homes for the developmentally disabled, psychiatric hospitals, higher education scholarships, and the Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf — to name just a few of the worthy beneficiaries of New Jersey Lottery proceeds.
— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
