The Powerball jackpot has hit a record-setting $1.5 billion -- and that means big profits for the 44 states participating in the lottery.
For Maryland, lottery profits are the fourth-largest contributor to its general fund, which largely supports public education. In fact, the majority of the states earmark the profits from lottery revenue for education, both K-12 public schools and public colleges and universities.
Related: The Other Powerball Numbers You Need to Know
Other programs benefit as well. In Colorado, lottery money funds outdoor, wildlife and conservation programs, while Pennsylvania dedicates its profits to services for older residents. In Iowa, New Jersey and Texas, Powerball money supports veteran services. And in Kansas, North Dakota, Louisiana and Washington, money from the lottery funds programs for gambling addicts.
Here’s what your state does with proceeds from Powerball and other lotteries. (The only states that don’t participate in Powerball are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada and Utah.)
| State | How Lottery Profits Are Spent |
| Arizona | education, health and human services, environment and economic initiatives |
| Arkansas | scholarships and grants for in-state colleges and universities |
| California | education such as computer labs, accelerated reading programs, arts and music programs, and Advanced Placement classes |
| Colorado | outdoors, conservation, parks and wildlife, education |
| Connecticut | general fund, which supports public health, libraries, public safety, education and more |
| Delaware | general fund, which supports public and higher education, health and social services, public safety, prisons, family service and environmental programs |
| District of Columbia | general fund which supports education, recreation and parks, public safety, housing and senior and child services |
| Florida | education, including college scholarships |
| Georgia | education, specifically pre-K and college grants and scholarships |
| Idaho | public schools and college campuses |
| Illinois | K-12 public education, roads and bike trails |
| Indiana | pension funds for local police, firefighters and teachers, and the Build Indiana Fund |
| Iowa | Iowa Veterans Trust fund, general fund |
| Kansas | problem gambling addictions fund, prisons, juvenile detentions and economic development projects |
| Kentucky | general fund, K-12 education, college scholarship and grant programs |
| Louisiana | problem gambling programs and education |
| Maine | general fund that supports local schools, higher education, health services, among other programs |
| Maryland | general fund, largely education |
| Massachusetts | general fund for city and town aid |
| Michigan | school aid fund |
| Minnesota | general fund, environment & natural resources funds, game & fish fund |
| Missouri | public education from K-12 to higher learning |
| Montana | general fund, which supports education, health, and public safety among other programs |
| Nebraska | lake improvements, wildlife habitats, education and need-based scholarships, state fair and recycling projects |
| New Hampshire | public education |
| New Jersey | education (including school nutrition, school contruction and renovation and higher education grants), centers for developmentally disabled, state psychiatric hospitals and veteran services |
| New Mexico | college scholarships |
| New York | education |
| North Carolina | education, including school constrcution, school staff, pre-K, college scholarships and need-based financial aid to UNC schools |
| North Dakota | general fund, compulsive gambling and treatment programs and drug task force |
| Ohio | elementary, secondary, vocational, and special education programs |
| Oklahoma | education, including K-12 compensation and benefits; college grants, loans and scholarships; and teachers' retirement system |
| Oregon | economic initiatives, education, state parks, wildlife and enhancing watersheds |
| Pennsylvania | programs that support senior residents |
| Rhode Island | general fund which supports education, human services, public safety among other programs |
| South Carolina | college scholarships, K-12 public education and public libraries |
| South Dakota | general fund and capital construction fund |
| Tennessee | college scholarships and grants and after-school programs |
| Texas | education and veteran services |
| Vermont | education |
| Virginia | pre-K, textbooks, school breakfast and other K-12 public education |
| Washington | education, economic development, stadium and exhibition center, and problem gambling programs |
| West Virginia | education (pre-school through college), senior citizen services, tourism and state parks |
| Wisconsin | property tax relief |
| Wyoming | state treasury and state fund for education |
| Sources: State Lottery Associations | |
