JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A new report found Missouri schools lost $35 million in lottery funding, despite a $5 million advertising boost.
State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick said the findings raise questions about whether increased advertising actually boosts lottery sales and education funding.
The audit found that lottery transfers to education remained relatively consistent in years with reduced advertising spending. However, in that dropped in Fiscal Year 2024 when advertising appropriations were partially restored.
By the Numbers
The audit found that in Fiscal Year 2024:
- Advertising spending jumped to $5.4 million, up from about $400,000 in the previous year
- Total lottery revenue dropped by $49 million
- Transfers to education fell by $35.3 million to $389.8 million
It’s because the newer national lotteries, Mega Millions and Powerball, get the splash in the news when their regular high payouts draw attention, and although (I think) Missouri gets a cut of the ticket sales, it’s lower than the MO Millions (the new $2 ticket which replaced the Missouri Lotto) generates.
And I think they’re about to get worse news once the impact of the sportsbook gambling is felt/tallied/appears in the monthly or annual reports. They probably have already seen something of it.
