People buying lottery tickets in Mississippi lost $5.1 million during the first week of a legal lottery in the state.
The first day for the lottery was Nov. 25.
The Mississippi Lottery Corporation, formed by the Legislature to oversee the state’s lottery, said just over $8.9 million came in during the first six days and that players cashed in more than $3.8 million in prizes.
The lottery netted about $1.9 million for roads and bridges, the corporation said.
That means there were roughly $3.2 million in administrative costs.
“Overall, retailers and players were very positive and excited that the lottery is finally here,” said Lottery Corporation President Tom Shaheen said in a prepared statement. “The top-five selling counties for the week were Hinds, Harrison, Rankin, Lee and Forrest.”
Top prizes claimed ranged from $2,000 to $15,000, and all but one winner chose to remain anonymous, the corporation said.
Four more scratch-off games will be available at all retailer locations on Tuesday, and Powerball and MegaMillions, the large, multi-state gambling operations with huge jackpots, will go on sale Jan. 30.
After more than two decades of blocking a lottery with strong resistance from churches and casinos, the Legislature approved one in a 2018 special session. Initial estimates were that it would net $85 million per year once fully implemented.
For the first 10 years from 2018, the money will go toward roads and bridges. After that it will be put into the state’s general fund. Seven convenience stores in Marion County are authorized to sell lottery tickets, according to an online retailer search hosted by the state Lottery Corporation. Columbia stores reported high sales volume of lottery tickets during the first day.
