When the Missouri Lottery began in 1986, proceeds from ticket sales went to the Missouri State General Revenue Fund. In August 1992, voters passed Amendment 11 earmarking Lottery proceeds to solely benefit public education. Each year, the Missouri Legislature determines how these proceeds will be allocated. Since 1986, the Missouri Lottery has contributed more than $3 billion to the state of Missouri and public education. Annual Lottery contributions comprise about 4 percent of the state's funding for education - an effort shared by local, state and federal governments.
Lottery funds help support a variety of programs including early childhood special education, computer networking, construction of college and university buildings, library acquisitions and educational scholarships. These programs and others that receive Lottery money provide the resources that help Missouri students fulfill their individual dreams - dreams that define Missouri's future and ultimately benefit all of Missouri residents.
How Much Is $3 Billion?
Three billion is 10 times the number of people living in the United States and not quite half the population of the world (6.6 billion).
Three billion inches equals 47,348 miles.
Three billion minutes equals 1,900 years.
Three billion seconds ago it was 1912.
If you had $3 billion in $1,000 bills stacked on pallets, it would fill a space 12 feet high by 30 feet wide and more than 12 feet deep. It would require two 18-wheelers to move all of that cash!
A single stack of 3 billion $1 bills would reach 189.1 miles into space. (Satellites orbit Earth at around 4.1 miles.) That same stack of $1 bills laid end to end would stretch more than 284,000 miles - enough to circle the earth 11 times.
$3 billion distributed equally between every one of Missouri's 5.8 million citizens would add up to $517.24 each.
$3 billion is about one-seventh of Missouri's annual budget ($20.5 billion) and represents about one half of what the state appropriates for education each year ($6 billion).
Helpful Resources
Photos of Buildings Renovated/Built with Lottery Proceeds
News Release
Fact Sheet
Where the Money Goes
Elementary & Secondary Education
Higher Education
Missouri Lottery Progress Report
Financial Reports
Photos and Artwork
Artwork Use
Lottery corporate and game logos are registered trademarks and/or service marks. They may be used with written permission from the Missouri Lottery. If you need a logo version other than the ones provided on this page, contact us and we will mail you an EPS file.
Photographs
The following photographs are illustrating higher education buildings built or renovated using MIssouri Lottery proceeds. Some photographs are available for reproduction. Please contact the Lottery's communications section at (573) 751-4050 to inquire about use and availability of photos. Photos will be provided via e-mail as high-resolution JPEG files.
School for the Visual and Performing Arts, Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau
Townsend Hall, University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia
Taylor Auditorium, Missouri Southern State University
Joplin
Webster Building, Missouri Southern State University
Joplin
Business and Technology College, Metropolitan Community College
Kansas City
Ophelia Parish, Truman State University
Kirksville
Information Technology Center, Linn State Technical College
Linn
Advanced Technology Center
Mexico
Graphic Arts/Fine Arts Center, Moberly Area Community College
Moberly
Butler-Carlton Civil Engineering Building, University of Missouri-Rolla
Rolla
Dental Hygiene Clinic, Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center, State Fair Community College
Sedalia
Construction Lab, Ozarks Technical Community College
Springfield
Duane G. Meyer Library, Missouri State University
Springfield
Eder Hall, Missouri Western State University
St. Joseph
Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center, University of Missouri-St. Louis
St. Louis
Regional Training Center, East Central Community College
Union
Wood Building, University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg
Michael J. Lybyer Enhanced Technology Center, Missouri State University
