Media-ready jpg image of Veterans Celebration ticket

Media-ready jpg image of Veterans Bucks ticket

Microsoft Word document of news release

DATE: April 30, 2008
CONTACT: Sally Lunsford (785) 296-5708, sally.lunsford@kslottery.net

Veterans Benefit Games Headed to Lottery Retailers

TOPEKA, KAN. – For the sixth year in a row, the Kansas Lottery is supporting U.S. Veterans with the sale of special instant games that provide direct funding for Kansas Veterans’ programs and Kansas National Guard scholarships. Starting May 1, the Lottery is shipping Veterans Benefit games to authorized Lottery retailers across the state.

The Veterans Benefit games being launched this week are a $2 scratch ticket called Veterans Celebration and a $1 scratch ticket called Veterans Bucks. Players can win up to $10,000 playing Veterans Celebration and up to $5,000 playing Veterans Bucks. The Lottery also expects to offer other Veterans games later in the year.

Half of the net profits from the sale of Veterans Benefit games are used for Kansas National Guard Educational Assistance Scholarships, and half are appropriated for the Kansas Soldiers’ Home and the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery System.

The Legislature approved legislation to allow profits from sales of Veterans lottery tickets to go directly to Veterans programs in 2003. Currently, Veterans Benefit games are offered for sale only between May 1 and November 30 of each year. Since 2003, the Lottery has generated more than $3.8 million in net profit from sales of these games.

Lottery Transfers from Veterans Benefit Games
Fiscal Year 2004 $632,695
Fiscal Year 2005 $701,164
Fiscal Year 2006 $717,851
Fiscal Year 2007 $914,094
Fiscal Year 2008 $889,596
Total $3,855,400

“We are truly grateful for the support our players have shown our Veterans Benefit games in years past,” said Lottery Director Ed Van Petten. “The revenue generated from the sale of these tickets stays right here in Kansas to benefit our Kansas Veterans, which makes us all especially proud.”

The Kansas Lottery currently has approximately 1,800 certified retailer locations selling Kansas Lottery products. Players must be 18 to purchase tickets.