A Year of Celebration: 40 Years of California Lottery Play and Counting
- Insights Press
- 29 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Public schools extend winning streak past four decades
SACRAMENTO (December 30, 2025) – Forty years ago, on October 3, 1985, the California Lottery began a winning streak for California public education. What’s followed since? Four decades of life-changing wins and extraordinary contributions to public schools. Looking back on 2025, with the support of California Lottery players and retail partners, California’s classrooms once again have them to thank for enhanced instruction, materials, equipment, and more.
A Year in Review: Highlights From 2025
A quarter-century of contributions over $1 billion. With $1.9 billion contributed to California public education in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, it’s been over 25 years of Lottery contributions surpassing $1 billion annually for California’s schools, from kindergarten through community college, all the way to California State University and University of California classrooms. All the information can be found in the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.
40 Years of Play! California’s first ever $40 Scratchers® game, 40 Years of Play, became 2025’s top-selling game, and so far, has made five multimillionaires with its top prize of $15 million. Two more $15 million prizes remain for the popular commemorative game.
Back-to-back millions for public education. Powerball® reached more than $1 billion twice in 2025, and while the jackpot prizes were won in other states, the second back-to-back billion-dollar jackpot run in history generated over $250 million for California public education through those Powerball sales alone.
A Top 12 over $10 million. Between 40 Years of Play, $10 Million Super Bonus, 200X, and Royal Riches Scratchers games, the top 12 Scratchers instant winners for 2025 were all prizes of $10 million or more.
The billion-dollar reveal – In March of 2025, the California Lottery announced the biggest Mega Millions® winner in California history, with Rosemary Casarotti’s win in Cottonwood.
Committed to responsibility and transparency. The California Lottery continued to be recognized for its commitment to responsible gaming, with its 2025 recertification by the World Lottery Association, marking a decade of responsible gaming certification at the highest level. The Lottery was also recognized for its financial reporting and “spirit of full disclosure” by the Government Finance Officers Association.
Looking Ahead
As we enter 2026, the California Lottery will continue its commitment to transparency and integrity in service to its mission: raising extra money for California’s public schools. Whether it’s as simple as middle school sports uniforms, or as essential as supporting workforce training programs, schools choose how to apply the extra funds from the California Lottery to instructional support in public education. As the 40th year comes to a close, the California Lottery has delivered more than $48 billion to public schools since 1985 – and counting.
To find out more about the funds distributed by the California Lottery to public education across the state, visit www.calottery.com/who-benefits. The page features an interactive map showing school funding by district and links to current financial reports.
About the California Lottery
The mission of the California Lottery is to raise additional funding for public education, helping to supplement school budgets for K-12 as well as colleges and universities. The California Lottery has raised more than $48 billion for public schools through the responsible sale of its games since 1985. Lottery funding for schools is largely discretionary, so administrators and educators can use Lottery money for instructional programs and services they may not otherwise afford. The California Lottery features eight draw games and dozens of new instant Scratchers games each year. More than 95% of California Lottery sales revenue goes back to the community in the form of prize payments, retailer commissions and bonuses, and contributions to education. More information about who benefits can be found here. California Lottery is also committed to promoting responsible gaming. Anyone who shows signs of a gambling problem, or knows someone who does, can get free, confidential help by calling the CA Problem Gambling Hotline at 1-800-GAMBLER.
