COLUMBIA, SC (July 13, 2026) – The South Carolina Education Lottery is announcing its second largest contribution to education.
South Carolina’s students will benefit from a transfer of $606.8 million in lottery funds for Fiscal Year 2026. This brings the Lottery’s total funding for education to $9.5 BILLION since startup in 2002. This year’s total was just shy of the record transfer of $607.6 million made in 2021.
“It’s remarkable to think that lottery play in South Carolina raises more than $1.5 million a day for education,” said the Lottery’s Chief Executive Officer Dolly Garfield. “This year’s outstanding results are a perfect lead in to our 25th Anniversary in January. We have much to celebrate.”
The first year of debit card sales, the popularity of $20 scratch-offs, upgrades to ticket displays at retailers and two Powerball® jackpots that topped over a billion dollars all contributed to the Lottery’s near record, year-end results.
FY 2026 also saw lottery players win more than $1.6 billion in prize money and lottery retailers earn in excess of $175 million in commissions.
Chairman of the SC Lottery Commission, Sam Litchfield adds, “On behalf of the Board, we are so pleased with the Lottery’s continued success. These funds will ensure that South Carolina is the absolute best state to call home and receive a great education.”
Lottery proceeds are deposited into the Education Lottery Account, from which the General Assembly makes appropriations in support of higher education scholarships and grants, K-12 public education programs and community education programs throughout the state.
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