Wisconsin Lottery sets sales record for second year in a row

MADISON (WITI) -- Just twelve months after setting a new all-time sales record, the Wisconsin Lottery did it again. With $565.6 million in sales in the fiscal year that ended June 30th, the Lottery posted back-to-back record years.

The $565.6 million in sales generates an estimated $160 million in property tax relief. The record sales is also $18 million more than the previous record of $547.4 set just one year earlier in fiscal year 2012. The Lottery's best sales mark before 2012 was $518.9 million in 1995.

Lotto sales were driven by $2 Powerball, which produced a $590 million jackpot in May and three other jackpots of more than $300 million during the fiscal year.

Lottery retailers across the state earned nearly $35 million from their ticket sales.  More than $329 million in prizes were paid, with 13 players winning $1 million or more.