Lottery sales, revenues and help to schools all up in 2010

An audit of the North Carolina Education Lottery shows the system is growing in popularity and revenue.

The lottery sold tickets worth more than $1.4 billion in fiscal 2010, an increase of $128 million from the previous year. The lottery sold $150 million worth of $20 scratch-off tickets for the $200 Million Extravaganza.

The audit shows scratch-offs are by far the most popular lottery games. They made up almost $900 million in revenue in 2010. The next closest games are Powerball and the daily Pick 3.

In 2011, the lottery will disperse a projected $441 million to the state to use for education. The largest chunk of the lottery revenue, 59 percent, is spent on prizes.