The Georgia Lottery generated more than $1.54 billion for education during fiscal year 2026, supporting the HOPE Scholarship and Georgia’s voluntary Pre-K Program.

Governor Brian Kemp announced that the Georgia Lottery Corporation transferred $1,540,868,000 to the State Treasury’s Lottery for Education Account during the fiscal year. Since ticket sales began in 1993, the lottery has now contributed more than $31.3 billion to education programs across Georgia.

Fiscal year 2026 marked the 11th consecutive year in which lottery profits for education exceeded $1 billion. The latest total was also $69.5 million higher than fiscal year 2025, when approximately $1.47 billion was transferred for education.

“The Georgia Lottery has generated $11.48 billion in proceeds for the HOPE Scholarship and our Pre-K Program over the last eight years,” Kemp said.

The governor said the lottery funding complements other state education investments, including restoring the HOPE Scholarship to cover 100 percent of tuition at eligible public colleges and universities and eliminating the institutional fee previously charged to students.

Lottery proceeds are legally dedicated to specific education programs. The money helps fund HOPE scholarships and grants for students attending Georgia colleges, universities and technical colleges, as well as free Pre-K classes for eligible four-year-old children.

Since the lottery’s creation, more than 2.3 million students have received HOPE assistance, while more than 2.2 million children have participated in Georgia’s Pre-K Program, according to the Georgia Lottery Corporation.

Georgia Lottery President and CEO Gretchen Corbin credited retailers, employees, vendors, state leaders and lottery players for the strong financial year. She said every ticket purchased helps support Georgia students and families who benefit from lottery-funded education programs.

Fiscal year 2026 also included the largest prize in Georgia Lottery history—a $983 million Mega Millions jackpot won with a ticket purchased in Newnan in November and claimed in January.