Left unsaid: where the money comes from.
Research cited in a 2025 CBS News report indicates that households in the sub-$30,000-a-year range spend an average of $412 a year on lottery tickets, nearly four times what those in the $75,000-plus range spend ($105 a year).
This is how lotteries work: people who have little are lured by mass-media advertising and displays in convenience and grocery stores into sinking a huge chunk of their income on the infinitesimal chance that they’ll hit it big.
But hey, it helps pay the bills for our K-12 schools.
“These FY26 results reflect a simple formula: outstanding retail partners, innovative digital products, exciting jackpots and, above all, an exceptional Lottery team committed to serving Virginians,” said Kevin Hall, the executive director of the Virginia Lottery.
“Every ticket purchased and every game played helps support public education, and the Virginia Lottery team takes tremendous pride in that mission,” Hall said.
Kevin Hall, incidentally, is a former press aide to U.S. Sen Mark Warner, dating back to Warner’s days as governor more than 20 years ago.
I remember how he didn’t like a lot of the stories that I wrote about Warner back during Warner’s time in Richmond.
It’s definitely nothing personal.
The Virginia Lottery PR folks had a job to do, in highlighting all the money that we’re spending on lottery tickets, and how much of that goes back to our schools.
I’m OK telling that story, but I also have to tell you the other one, about how people who don’t have a lot of money to blow on nonsense throw a disproportionate amount of their income down the drain on lottery tickets.
Cue the quote from the current governor, who also ends up being a bit of a punching bag here.
“Every dollar of this year’s $914 million contribution goes to Virginia’s future — to our schools, students, and teachers across every corner of our Commonwealth. Investing in education has always been one of the smartest investments we can make,” Gov. Abigail Spanberger said in a statement highlighted in the PR.
“Virginians expect gaming to be conducted responsibly, transparently and with strong public oversight. I know that the Lottery remains committed not only to generating revenue for education, but to doing so with a focus on protecting Virginians,” Spanberger said.
“Protecting Virginians” – ha!
Sorry; I really don’t mean to be an a–hole on this.
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Chris Graham
