The Hoosier Lottery broke sales and revenue records in its last fiscal year – wildly surpassing expectations and, thus, sending more money back to the state than ever before.

Lottery officials expected to collect about $1.3 billion in the fiscal year that ended in June. It collected more than $1.7 billion. And that better-than-projected performance was led by scratch-off game sales which – on their own – surpassed that $1.3 billion projection.

Chuck Taylor said that’s going to benefit people across the state. He’s the lottery director of legal affairs.

“Those help our police and firefighters’ pensions as well as our teachers’ retirement fund, as well as help to reduce excise tax for every Hoosier here in our state,” Taylor said.

One month into the new fiscal year, sales are on track to meet expectations. But no one is assuming this year’s revenues will reach last year’s lofty numbers.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.