The Nebraska Lottery has distributed $11,456,576 to its beneficiary funds, bringing total quarterly transfers since the lottery began in 1993 to more than $1.1 billion.
The latest transfer, made the week of October 2, represents a share of Scratch and Lotto ticket sales during the previous three months, according to the lottery.
“We transfer monies to our beneficiary funds every three months,” Nebraska Lottery spokesman Neil Watson told KLIN News.
Education programs designated by the Legislature and the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund each received nearly $4.9 million.
The latest distribution includes:
| Beneficiary | Amount |
|---|---|
| Education as directed by the Legislature | $4,875,676 |
| Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund | $4,875,676 |
| Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund | $1,095,658 |
| Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund | $609,566 |
| Total | $11,456,576 |
Watson said the money supports several areas of state programs.
“One is education as directed by the legislature,” he said. “Another one is the environment. The money goes to the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund.”
“We also support the Nebraska State Fair and Compulsive Gamblers Assistance,” Watson added.
The proceeds come from the lottery’s full lineup of products.
“So that includes, you know, scratch tickets as well as our lotto tickets like Powerball or Nebraska Pick 5,” Watson said. “It’s basically every one of our products.”
Nebraska voters established the current distribution formula by approving Amendment 4 in November 2004. The Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund receives the first $500,000 in proceeds each fiscal year. The remaining proceeds are divided among education and the Environmental Trust at 44.5% each, the State Fair at 10%, and gambling assistance at 1%.
Since operations began September 11, 1993, the lottery has distributed $1,103,516,573 through quarterly beneficiary transfers. It passed the $1 billion milestone in September 2024.
The Environmental Trust has received $472,900,130 over that period. The State Fair fund has received $86,727,728, and the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund has received $24,302,529.
The current category of education funding directed by the Legislature has received $47,019,752. That amount is separate from distributions to former education beneficiary funds.
Earlier education distributions included $169,189,056 to the Nebraska Education Improvement Fund before July 2024; $174,222,842 to the Education Innovation Fund before July 2016; and $100,929,476 to the Nebraska Opportunity Grant Fund before July 2016.
The lottery also previously distributed $18,460,996 to the Solid Waste Landfill Closure Assistance Fund before July 1997.
A Friday news release notes a $5 million transfer to the State General Fund directed by lawmakers in 2004. In 2026, the Legislature directed a one-time transfer of $4,764,064 to the Education Future Fund, followed by subsequent transfers of interest income.
Beneficiary funds establish grant and distribution criteria under legislative mandates. According to the lottery, every Nebraska county has received services through grants supported by lottery proceeds.