Arkansas lottery sales surpass $100 million

The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery sales passed the $100 million mark on Monday (Dec. 7), just 71 days since sales began Sept. 28, according to a release from the lottery staff.

More than $62 million has been paid out in prizes, with more than $25 million available so far to support the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship program.

“It’s all about scholarships, and if an individual scholarship is valued at $5,000, then our collective efforts so far equate to over 5,000 Arkansans receiving lottery financial aid next year,” Ernie Passailaigue, ASL lottery executive director, said in a statement.

Lottery sales have averaged $1,416,842 per day, higher than anticipated, giving the scholarship fund a healthy boost, noted the ASL release.

Also, the lottery staff claims that a “hefty portion” of the $100 million is from sales previously going to lotteries in other states.

The lottery staff and commission has scheduled more games for introduction, to include an Arkansas draw game called “Cash 3” to release Dec. 14, and another multistate game “MegaMillions” to begin January 2010.  The Powerball multistate game launched Oct. 31.

The purpose of the ASL is to provide scholarships and grants to Arkansas residents enrolled in public and private nonprofit two-year and four-year colleges and universities within the state.