PHOENIX – The Arizona Lottery reported earlier this week that it generated $551 million in revenue for fiscal 2010, a 13.8 percent increase over 2009, which represents the largest gain from any other state lottery in the nation, Phoenix Business Journal reports.

The record sales produced $142 million in net profits, which will be allocated for state programs including healthcare, homeless programs, economic development, and education. And as a result of the sales, lottery retailers earned $37 million in commissions for the year.

Arizona Lottery executive director Jeff Hatch-Miller credited the record sales to the state's $100 Million Cash Spectacular instant ticket, Mega Millions, more scratchers game winners and larger payouts.

Since 1981, the Arizona Lottery has realized $2.5 billion in net profit for the state and more than half-a-billion dollars in commissions for retailers.