Richmond, Va. (NewsradioWRVA.com) - Although the jackpot-winning in this past Friday's Mega Millions drawing was not bought in Virginia, the Commonwealth did benefit from all the excitement. Kelly Gee, the executive director of the Virginia Lottery, says that Virginia generated an estimated $30.2 million in profit. By law, all of the lottery's profits go to K-12 public education in Virginia.
Gee says the lottery profits, in general, make up about 10% of the entire education budget, which is not an overwhelming amount. However, she says, what money is used is significant.
Gee says that the state legislature determines how profits are spent. Generally, about a third of that includes money going directly to public school systems for needs-based spending. The other two-thirds goes to specific programs the legislature funds, such as class size reduction, school breakfasts and early reading intervention.
There are three $10,000 winning tickets bought that have not been claimed as of yet. They were purchased at:
7-Eleven, 13821 Heathcote Blvd. in Gainesville
Wawa, 510 West Shirley Ave. in Warrenton
Sheetz, 15 Wyche Road in Stafford
Gee says that winners generally have 180 days from the drawing to claim any winnings from lottery tickets.
