Hoosier Lottery to send about $350M surplus to state, aiding pensions and lowering vehicle excise tax

State Lottery Commission officials on Aug. 18 reported preliminary, unaudited fiscal 2026 figures showing nearly $1.7 billion in sales and an expected nearly $350 million surplus to go to state coffers. The total is roughly flat with recent years; the lottery paid about $1.1 billion in prizes and operator Brightstar Indiana is slated for a $7 million incentive payment. Scratch tickets produced roughly $1.2 billion in revenue, below budget, while Powerball and non-jackpot draw games outperformed expectations and Mega Millions lagged budget targets.

Commissioners highlighted growing use of the lottery’s digital playslip — which creates a barcode retailers can scan — and said that strengthens the case for allowing online ticket sales. External Affairs Director Jared Bond confirmed the lottery has submitted an iLottery proposal to Gov. Mike Braun’s office; commissioners said lawmakers could revisit the issue during the upcoming budget-writing session.

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