BOISE, ID – The Idaho Lottery marked its 36th year with a major milestone Tuesday, presenting a $75 million dividend to the State of Idaho to support public education and state building improvements.
In a ceremony at the College of Western Idaho (CWI), Governor Brad Little accepted the check on behalf of Idaho taxpayers, noting the funds play a critical role in improving educational facilities and reducing property taxes across the state.
“Lottery dividends provide critical resources for our infrastructure of state-owned buildings, the bulk of those being on our college campuses,” Governor Little said. “They are also paying down voter-approved bonds and levies on public school facilities at a record pace, reducing the taxpayer burden to provide quality education for our youth.”
Of this year’s $75 million dividend—the third largest in Idaho Lottery history—$46.875 million is allocated to the Department of Education and $28.125 million goes to the Department of Administration’s Permanent Building Fund. These funds help finance maintenance and capital projects at Idaho’s public schools, universities, and state buildings.
Andrew Arulanandam, Director of the Idaho Lottery, credited the accomplishment to a dedicated team and resilient economic conditions. “The result of our efforts can be seen in real-world projects like the new CapEd Student Success Center now being built on the CWI campus,” he said.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield emphasized the tangible impact of lottery funds. “The direct impact that these improvements can make on the experiences that students and staff have in our schools cannot be understated,” she said.
Dale Reynolds, Director of the Division of Public Works, accepted the check on behalf of the Department of Administration and highlighted the importance of continued support. “These funds are essential for maintaining and enhancing our state agencies, universities, colleges, and public buildings,” he said.
The 2025 fiscal year also marked the third consecutive year the Idaho Lottery surpassed $400 million in revenue. In addition to the dividend, the Lottery awarded $274.8 million in prizes to players and paid $23.3 million in commissions to its 1,230 retail locations statewide.
Since its inception in 1989, the Idaho Lottery has returned over $1.3 billion to Idaho public schools and state-owned buildings.
