NH LOTTERY SURPASSES $631 MILLION IN SALES FOR FY 2024, BREAKING ALL-TIME RECORD
The New Hampshire Lottery achieved record sales in fiscal year 2024, surpassing $631 million, a nearly 5% increase over last year, the state announced. This growth led to a record $200.7 million contribution to New Hampshire public education, reflecting a 7% rise.
Since its inception in 1964, the Lottery has contributed over $2.85 billion to support students, teachers and schools across the state.
“Thanks to the awesome work of our teams, the New Hampshire Lottery continues to reach new heights, bringing better games, more prizes, and record funding for education,” said Gov. Chris Sununu in a statement.
Celebrating its 60th anniversary, the NH Lottery has grown rapidly, with a 62.1% sales increase in the last five years, totaling an additional $240 million.
Sales highlights include a nearly 100% increase in Tri-State Megabucks, driven by a $13.9 million jackpot, a 20% rise in Powerball sales after a $1.765 billion jackpot, and a 25% growth in e-instant games. Sports betting saw $753 million in total wagers, generating $114.8 million in revenue for education since its launch in 2019.
Charitable gaming and the Lottery also contributed $36.7 million to local charities and $29.2 million to schools in FY 2024, the release said.
ALL 10 NH COUNTIES SEE POPULATION GROWTH SINCE COVID-19
New Hampshire’s population continues to grow post-COVID-19, with all 10 counties showing increases, according to the Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA).
Between April 2020 and July 2023, the state added 24,525 people, a 1.78% increase. Nationally, the population grew by just over 1%, while Maine led northern New England at 2.39%. Vermont grew by 0.68%, and Massachusetts saw a population decline of 0.45%, losing 31,534 residents.
“Traditionally our population growth has occurred along the Massachusetts border, but we are now seeing growth in rural communities to the north and west,” BEA Commissioner Taylor Caswell said in a statement. “This is great news for community revitalization and employers looking for workforce.”
Rockingham County gained the most, with 8,811 new residents, bringing its total to 322,987. Hillsborough County, the state’s largest at 430,773, grew by 7,836. Strafford County added 2,186, reaching 133,075.
Merrimack, the fastest-growing town in the state, saw an 8.78% increase, adding 2,339 people. Londonderry and Salem followed, adding 1,708 and 1,606 residents, respectively.
Vacation destinations also saw growth: Grafton County rose by 2.27%, adding 2,066 people. Carroll County grew by 2.22%, with 1,108 new residents, and Belknap County increased by 2.07%, reaching 65,021.
Smaller gains were seen in Sullivan County (583), Merrimack County (291), Coos County (288) and Cheshire County (32).
CONNECTION NAMED ONE OF AMERICA’S BEST MID- SIZE COMPANIES BY TIME MAGAZINE
Connection (NASDAQ: CNXN), an information technology solutions provider, was recognized on Time’s inaugural list of America’s Best Mid-Size Companies.
According to a press release by Connection, the award was given by Time and Statista Inc., a statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The 2024 ranking considered companies operating in the U.S. with revenues between $100 million and $10 billion in 2022 or 2023.
The evaluation criteria included employee satisfaction, revenue growth and sustainability transparency. Employee satisfaction was assessed through surveys, while revenue growth data came from internal databases. Sustainability transparency focused on environmental, social and governance (ESG) data.
“It’s an honor to be named among the top-performing companies in the U.S., not only for our ability to drive growth and deliver exceptional results for our customers, but for the incredible team and supportive culture we’ve built over more than four decades of industry leadership,” said Tim McGrath, president and CEO, in a statement.
