Governor Glenn Youngkin has announced that the Virginia Lottery contributed over $901 million in profits to support K-12 public education during the 2025 fiscal year—marking the second-highest total in the Lottery’s 37-year history.
“These profits are a powerful testament to our steadfast commitment to investing in the future of every student,” Youngkin said during a ceremonial check presentation with Virginia Lottery Executive Director Khalid Jones. “This vital source of funding represents nearly 10 percent of our K-12 education budget.”
The $901 million in profits were generated from more than $5.7 billion in Lottery sales. Of that, $4.5 billion was returned to players as prizes—meaning about 78 cents of every dollar spent went back to the players. The remaining profits, as required by state law, go directly to Virginia’s K-12 public schools.
According to Jones, the profits support a variety of education programs across every school division in Virginia. Roughly one-third of the funding allocated to each district is discretionary, allowing local school systems to address their own unique priorities.
The largest single win of FY25 was a Mega Millions jackpot of $348 million—Virginia’s biggest ever—claimed by a player who bought the ticket at E & C Mid-Atlantic in Burgess. The store received a $50,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
In addition to school funding and player prizes, Lottery sales also benefitted Virginia businesses. More than 5,300 retailers statewide participated, earning a combined $127.9 million in commissions and bonuses—many of them small, locally owned shops.
Final audited numbers will be released later this month by the Auditor of Public Accounts.
To see how Lottery proceeds are distributed across Virginia school districts, or to learn more about games and responsible play, visit valottery.com.
Information from a release. Edited by Dan McDermott.
