LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Faster than expected. That's the word from the Kentucky Lottery Corporation Monday as it announced the organization has passed $1 billion in annual sales on March 4.

The Lottery says this is 73 days sooner than when the milestone was passed in 2020. 

Kentucky Lottery President and CEO Mary Harville said in a statement, "Given everything that’s happened this year, it took a herculean effort to achieve this goal as quickly as we did." She added, "With where we were a year ago, just starting to go into COVID lockdown, reaching this milestone as quickly as we have may have seemed impossible. But effective planning, execution, and teamwork between both our tremendous retailers and our exceptional staff have driven our success this year.”

The Lottery first hit $1 billion in sales in 2017, when the landmark was met on June 30, the final day of the fiscal year 

Harville credits Lottery products being available during the pandemic helped grow sales throughout the year.

In the statement Vice President and Corporate Controller Maggie Garrison said sales from July through February totaled $982.9 million, 34.4% more than the same time last year.  Operating expenses for the period are below budget and only 2.2% of sales.

January was the highest sales month in the Lottery's 310year history and helped drive increases.  Sales in January were $159.5 million.  

Garrison also said the year-to-date jump in sales was led by Scratch-off tickets and has jumped 33.8% or $148.1 million. Scratch-offs made $437.8 million last year and $585.5 million this year.