LANSING, November 10, 1997 – The Michigan Lottery proudly marks its 25th year of operation this month, but there’s even more reason to celebrate.

According to a report by International Gaming & Wagering Business, Michigan was the top-performing U.S. lottery in fiscal 1997 – one of only two lotteries to achieve a double-digit percentage increase in year-to-year sales growth for traditional lottery games.  The report cites, "Among states not offering VLTs (video lottery terminals), Michigan’s … growth was nothing short of remarkable given the current trends."

In another recent report, IG&WB also named Michigan as one of the most efficient lotteries based on the percentage of government revenues generated from sales dollars.

"Fiscal 1997 was a challenging year in many respects," said Michigan Lottery Commissioner Bill Martin.  "Approximately 18 state lotteries suffered sales losses this year, while Michigan flourished.  With a full year of The Big Game under our belts and explosive instant ticket sales, we kept our year on track with tremendous results."

The Michigan Lottery achieved gross revenues of $1.63 billion (unaudited) in fiscal 1997, shattering the previous year’s record by nearly $200 million.  Most importantly, the Lottery’s outstanding year means roughly $580 million in net dollars for the state School Aid Fund.  That brings to nearly $8 billion in total funding the Lottery has generated for Michigan’s schools since the Lottery’s inception.

"The Michigan Lottery has made great strides in education funding, retailer partnerships and game innovation," said Martin.  "I’m proud to continue the tradition started by our first commissioner, Gus Harrison – a tradition of winning for Michigan’s schoolchildren, our players, and the 9,000 retailers throughout the state."

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