Raleigh, NC -- The N.C. Education Lottery has made its initial revenue transfer for fiscal year 2013, providing $121.3 million to the education programs it's designed to help.
Lottery officials said the transfer brings the total earned for education and the state to $2.58 billion.
Executive director Alice Garland said the first-quarter transfer is 5 percent higher than the one made at the same time last year. Garland attributed the increase in earnings to higher first-quarter sales resulting from a $320 million Powerball jackpot in August. She also pointed to a new set of instant games that offer players a chance to win as much as $5,000 a week for life.
Lottery ticket sales totaled $383.7 million in the first quarter, up 5 percent from same period last fiscal year.
AP