The Florida Lottery was created to allow the people of the state to benefit from significant additional moneys for education while playing lottery games. The mission of the Florida Lottery is to maximize revenues in a manner consistent with the dignity of the state and the welfare of its citizens.

The Lottery is headquartered in Tallahassee, with nine district offices located throughout the state that provide field support services to retailers and act as prize redemption and sales centers.  Through a statewide network of approximately 13,000 full-service retailers including gas stations, grocery, and convenience stores, the Lottery sells a variety of draw games, scratch-off games, and fast play games (instant games that print from a retailer terminal).

The Lottery installed 1,000 scratch-off ticket vending machines in 2009 and another 500 in 2010, mostly in the Lottery's highest selling retailer locations around the state. In 2012, the Legislature enacted Ch. 2012-130, Laws of Florida, authorizing full service vending machines to sell both scratch-off and draw game tickets. In November 2012, the Lottery finished installing 500 full service vending machines in currently participating retailer locations. In 2018, the Legislature authorized the Lottery to contract for up to 1,000 full-service vending machines with functionality to sell terminal tickets and instant tickets. In addition, the Legislature authorized the department to have a maximum of 1,500 full-service vending machines with functionality to sell only scratch-off tickets.

Winning tickets of less than $600 may be redeemed at any Lottery retailer. To redeem a prize of $600 or more, the prizewinner must complete a Winner Claim Form. Prizes from $600 to $249,999 can be claimed via appointment drop box to any of the Lottery's nine district offices, or mailed to any district office. Prizes $250,000 and greater can be claimed via appointment or drop box at Lottery Headquarters or mailed to Lottery Headquarters. All Florida MEGA MILLIONS, POWERBALL, CASH4LIFE, and Fast Play prizes must be claimed in Florida.

The Lottery developed a Retailer Integrity Program that includes Lottery staff visiting and testing Lottery retailers using winning Lottery tickets to ensure the retailers are properly paying prizes to players for winning Lottery tickets, and are compliant with Lottery retailer rules and procedures. In these operations, retailers are selected for visits both at random and also based upon complaints from players. When tickets were not correctly processed for payment and an attempt was made to steal a player's winnings, store personnel have been arrested and the retailers' contracts have been suspended and/or terminated. The Lottery also investigates complaints received from players in an effort to ensure the integrity and fairness of the operation of the Lottery and with players' interactions with Lottery retailers. Information regarding criminal activity that is discovered or received by the Lottery is either acted upon the by the Lottery or forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Gross revenues from the sale of lottery products are distributed to prizes, Lottery expenses, and transfer to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund. Pursuant to s. 24.121(1), Florida Statutes, the Lottery determines the variable percentage of the gross revenue from the sale of draw and scratch-off tickets that is returned to the public in the form of prizes in a manner designed to maximize the amount of revenue earned to enhance education. Gross sales revenue also is used to pay the expenses associated with running the Lottery, including the cost of its retailer network, draw and scratch-off game vendors, advertising vendors, and its in-house operation.  The remainder of gross sales revenue is transferred to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund.

In Fiscal Year 2019-20, lottery sales increased to $7.505 billion compared to the prior year’s sales of $7.151 billion (an increase of $353.9 million). Although Lottery sales increased in Fiscal Year 2019-20, Lottery transfers to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) decreased compared to the prior year. Lottery transfers for Fiscal Year 2019-20 were $1.914 billion, $13.3 million (0.7%) less than the prior year. This decline is primarily due to lower sales of draw games such as the multi-state POWERBALL and MEGA MILLIONS jackpot games, which were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Total transfers to the EETF for Fiscal Year 2019-20 exceeded the legislative standard of $1.817 billion.

For Fiscal Year 2020-21, the Florida Legislature appropriated $2.4 billion in Educational Enhancement Trust Funds to benefit Florida's schools and students.

The largest portion of Educational Enhancement Trust Funds, 42% ($1.002 billion), was appropriated to Florida's school districts. The $1.002 billion included $164 million for school construction, $104 million in operating funds to reduce class size, $627 million for the Florida Educational Finance Program, and $107 million  for school district workforce education programs. 

The Legislature also appropriated 26% ($623 million) to Bright Futures Scholarships, 29% ($700 million) to state universities and community colleges, and 4% ($85 million) to student financial aid.

Compared to other U.S. lotteries, the Florida Lottery had the third lowest operating expense rate in Fiscal Year 2019-20, behind West Virginia and Massachusetts. Florida ranked 10th highest among U.S. lotteries in per capita sales for Fiscal Year 2019-20.

The Lottery is self-supporting and receives no general revenue. Prizes and retailer commissions are paid directly from sales revenues and do not appear in the department's appropriation shown below. In Fiscal Year 2019-20, prizes totaled $5.030 billion and retailer commissions totaled $420.8 million.

In June 2020, the department launched a new mobile app. Among its features, the app allows players to check winning numbers and jackpots; check past winning numbers, prize levels, and payout amounts; and find Florida Lottery retailers.

Other Reports

2020-21 Education Appropriations - Funded by the Educational Enhancement (Lottery) Trust Fund, Department of Education, March 2021. 

2019-20 Education Appropriations - Funded by the Educational Enhancement (Lottery) Trust Fund, Department of Education, February 2020.

Department of the Lottery - Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and Financial Audit - For Fiscal Years Ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, Auditor General Report No. 2021-088, December 2020. 

Department of the Lottery - Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and Financial Audit - For Fiscal Years Ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, Auditor General Report No. 2020-086, December 2019.

Department of the Lottery - Advertising and Sponsorship and Selected Administrative Activities - Operational Audit, Auditor General Report No. 2020-011, August 2019.

Department of the Lottery - Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and Financial Audit - For Fiscal Years Ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, Auditor General Report No. 2019-090, December 2018.  

Department of the Lottery - Office of Inspector General's Internal Audit Activity - For the Review Period July 2017 Through June 2018 - Quality Assessment Review, Auditor General Report No. 2019-032, October 2018.

Department of the Lottery - Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and Financial Audit - For Fiscal Years Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, Auditor General Report No. 2018-078, December 2017.

Department of the Lottery - For Fiscal Years Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 - Financial Audit, Auditor General Report No. 2017-103, January 2017.

Department of the Lottery - Selected Administrative Activities and Prior Audit Follow-Up - Operational Audit, Auditor General Report No. 2017-019, September 2016.

Department of the Lottery - For Fiscal Years Ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 - Financial Audit, Auditor General Report No. 2016-080, January 2016.

Department of the Lottery - Office of Inspector General's Internal Audit Activity - For the Review Period July 2014 Through June 2015 - Quality Assessment Review, Auditor General Report No. 2016-038, November 2015.

The Auditor General reports on department operations are available on its website.

Websites of Interest
Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling
La Fleur's
Multi-State Lottery Association
National Council of Legislators from Gaming States
North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries

Performance Information

Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

Article X, Section 15, Constitution of the State of Florida, Ch. 24, and s. 20.317, Florida Statutes.

Florida Lottery Customer Service, 850-487-7787 or contact form

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