The Arkansas Lottery recently released its financial report for the month of April.

The report shows the Arkansas Lottery took in more than $65.5 million last month. However, less than $12.3 million went to scholarships — about 19 cents out of every dollar the Arkansas Lottery made.

The report also shows the Arkansas Lottery spent nearly $47 million on prizes for lottery players. That’s approximately 71.6% of the lottery’s revenue.

For perspective, the typical state lottery budgets approximately 25% – 30% of its revenue for education and about 60% for prizes.

Recently, S.B. 649 by Sen. Charles Beckham (R – McNeil) and Rep. Richard Womack (R – Arkadelphia) would have required the Arkansas Lottery to increase the percentage of its revenue budgeted for scholarships to 25% over the next six years. 

This would have brought the Arkansas Lottery up to the standards of the typical state-run lottery — and it most likely would have provided millions of additional dollars in scholarship funding.

However, the legislation failed to pass, and the Arkansas Lottery is still operating irresponsibly.

Click here to see the Arkansas Lottery’s April financial reports.