LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – People are buying Michigan lottery tickets more than ever in the post-pandemic world, and the biggest recipient of the extra money is the public school system.

Lottery revenues increased during the pandemic. The state received $3.3 billion in lottery revenues in 2017. That has increased to $5 billion in 2021 and $4.9 billion in 2022 and 2023.

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Most of the lottery money goes to public schools, including the local K-12 districts and colleges. In 2023, public schools received $1.35 billion and the state’s General Fund received $7.5 million and Health & Human Services received $1 million.

Public schools received $924.1 million in 2017 from the lottery and that increased to $1.35 billion in 2023.

In-store instant game scratch-off tickets are driving the growth in gambling. The state sold $1.32 billion in instant tickets in 2017 and that increased to $2.45 billion in 2021, $2.38 billion in 2022 and $2.36 billion.

The state sold $4.9 billion worth of tickets in 2023 and gave out $3 billion in awards in 2023.