Send to a Friend

Main Gambling Encyclopedia Page

Alabama
No State Lottery

Alaska
No State Lottery

Arizona
Everyone dreams of purchasing an Arizona Lottery ticket that has the winning numbers. But what about a $5 The Pick ticket that has winning numbers on each and every line – including one with the winning jackpot numbers?
http://www.arizonalottery.com

Arkansas
No State Lottery

California
On November 6, 1984, 58% of California's voters approved Proposition 37, the California State Lottery Act. The Act provides that at least 34% of the Lottery revenues must go to public education.
http://www.calottery.com

Colorado
In 1982, the General Assembly approved a bill implementing a state-supervised lottery. The bill created the Colorado Lottery as a division of the Colorado Department of Revenue, with a director appointed by the Executive Director of the Department of Revenue.
http://www.coloradolottery.com/home.cfm

Connecticut
State Representative John A. Tony Miscikoski, of Torrington, known by many as The Father of the Lottery, believed that a state lottery could provide substantial benefits to the residents of the state. Each year for nearly a decade, Miscikoski presented legislation to authorize lottery sales. Miscikoski's dream became a reality in 1971, and the Connecticut State Lottery came into being
http://www.ctlottery.org

Delaware
May 31, 1974: The Delaware Lottery is established by an act of the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Sherman W. Tribbit. October 1975: The Delaware Lottery sells tickets for games with weekly drawings. February 10, 1976: Diamond Instant Dollars, Delaware's first Instant Game, is introduced. September 27, 1977: Lucky Stars, a weekly game, is the first Delaware Lottery game with drawings televised on WHYY-TV, Channel 12
http://lottery.state.de.us

Florida
On this site you'll find winning numbers, prize payouts, game information, and even a detailed breakdown of the Lottery's contributions to public education, by county since its inception.
http://www.flalottery.com

Georgia
While it is our mission to raise as many dollars as possible for the educational programs we fund, we always remind our players to play responsibly — it's all about fun.
http://www.galottery.com

Hawaii
No State Lottery

Idaho
In 1986 by initiative, the people of Idaho voted on the Lottery issue for the first time. The initiative resulted in a 60 to 40 percent yes margin, but was later declared unconstitutional by the Idaho Supreme Court. The Court prohibited the amending of the Idaho Constitution by initiative.
http://www.idaholottery.com

Illinois
Illinois students and schoolrooms receive nearly $600 million per year in Lottery revenue -- about 4.5% of the $13.2 billion spent annually on K-12 education from local,state and national sources. From chalk to teacher paychecks computer labs, the dollars you don't win back are going toward a winning cause.
http://www.illinoislottery.com

Indiana
On November 8, 1988, Indiana voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum amending the state constitution to permit the establishment of a state lottery. The Lottery Act was signed into law in 1989 and the first Hoosier Lottery ticket was sold on October 13, 1989.
http://www.state.in.us/hoosierlottery

Iowa
Since the Iowa Lottery's inception in 1985, nearly $2 billion has been awarded in prizes and more than $1 billion has been raised for state programs.
http://www.ialottery.com

Kansas
In November of 1986, 64 percent of Kansas voters approved a constitutional amendment authorizing the creation of a state lottery. The Kansas Legislature passed the Kansas Lottery Act in 1987, and the Kansas Lottery was established.
http://www.kslottery.com

Kentucky
Since it started in 1989, the Kentucky Lottery has earned over $2 billion for Kentucky's state treasury.
http://www.kylottery.com

Louisiana
Louisiana Lottery Corporation began in 1991 after the 1990 state Legislature proposed a state lottery (ACT 1045) as a way to generate revenue without increasing taxes.
http://www.louisianalottery.com

Maine
June 1974 Ticket sales begin for a 50-cent weekly draw ticket called Play Me. The first draw is held on June 27, 1974. The first instant ticket, the Great Outdoors, is sold. The weekly game, Play Me, becomes Downeast Sweepstakes.
http://www.mainelottery.com

Maryland
Welcome to the Maryland Lottery’s official website.  While visiting our site, you will find the Lottery’s latest news including winning numbers, updates on games and promotions, event schedules, and details on Lottery proceeds. 
http://www.msla.state.md.us

Massachusetts
The Massachusetts State Lottery was established by the legislature in 1971, in response to the need for revenues for the 351 cities and towns of the Commonwealth.
http://www.masslottery.com

Michigan
Establishment of the Michigan Lottery On May 16, 1972, voters approve a constitutional amendment by a 2-to-1 margin, enabling the establishment of a state lottery. Governor William Milliken signed into law Public Act 239 on August1,1972. Gus Harrison appointed first Lottery Commissioner on August 1, 1972.
http://www.michigan.gov/lottery

Minnesota
In November 1988 Fifty-seven percent of Minnesota voters approve a constitutional amendment to authorize a state lottery.
http://www.lottery.state.mn.us

Mississippi
No State Lottery

Missouri
In November 6 1984 Seventy percent of Missouri voters approve Amendment 5 to the state constitution, giving the Legislature the authority to establish a state lottery.
http://www.molottery.com/

Montana
November 4 1986 Legislative Referendum 100, the Montana State Lottery Act, passes by 69% of the popular vote, carrying each of the 56 counties. Montana becomes the 23rd state lottery in the nation.
http://www.montanalottery.com

Nebraska
In November of 1992, 63 percent of Nebraska voters approved a constitutional amendment authorizing the creation of a state lottery. The Nebraska Lottery was created by LB 138, passed by the Nebraska Legislature on February 24, 1993. When the Nebraska Lottery began, it was the 37th lottery in the United States.
http://www.nelottery.com

Nevada
the Nevada State Constitution does not permit lotteries

New Hampshire
On April 30, 1963, Governor John King signed the Sweepstakes bill. The first three-member Sweepstakes Commission was sworn into office on August 1, 1963.
http://www.nhlottery.org

New Jersey
The voters of New Jersey overwhelmingly approved a referendum to create a State Lottery in what may have been the most lopsided result in the State's electoral history.In the election on November 4, 1969, the 1,593,239 YES ballots cast for the Lottery represented about 81.5% of all votes cast. The total was more than 1.2 million votes higher than the 362,947 ballots against the Lottery.
http://www.state.nj.us/lottery

New Mexico
April 5 1995 Governor Gary Johnson signs Senate Bill 853, creating the New Mexico Lottery Authority
http://www.nmlottery.com

New York
The New York Constitution, as approved by the People in 1966, requires ALL Lottery revenue be used in support of education in New York State.
http://www.nylottery.org/index.php

North Carolina
No State Lottery

North Dakota
Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem reminds residents that although the lottery initiative (Measure number 2), amending the state Constitution, passed on November 5, 2002, it is just the first step in the process and it will be several months before anyone will be able to buy a lottery ticket.
www.ndlottery.org

Ohio
The Ohio Lottery Commission was created in May 1973 by a voter-approved constitutional amendment. The first tickets went on sale in August 1974.
http://www.ohiolottery.com

Oklahoma
No State Lottery

Oregon
Dec. 1987 Test-marketed six Breakopen games at 35 retailers in three counties. January 1988 Expanded Breakopens statewide and added games. April 1989 Games available increased to 30. Began selling coin-operated dispensers to retailers. April 1990 Games available increased to 37.
http://www.oregonlottery.org/welcome.php

Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Lottery was established on August 26, 1971, by a legislative act, Title 91. Proceeds were initially targeted to provide property tax relief for the elderly in the Commonwealth.
http://www.palottery.state.pa.us

Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Lottery was established in 1973 through a Constitutional Convention. Tickets for the first game, The Lot, went on sale May 21, 1974. The first drawing was held at the State House on May 30.
http://www.rilot.com

South Carolina
The South Carolina Lottery has contributed over one billion dollars to the South Carolina Education Lottery fund.
http://www.sclottery.org

South Dakota
In November 1986, 60 percent of the electorate in a statewide referendum voted to amend the state constitution to allow for a state-operated Lottery. In 1987, legislators authorized the creation of the South Dakota Lottery, its commission and the sale of instant tickets. On Sept. 30, 1987, six months after the legislation was signed into law, the Lottery sold its first instant ticket.
http://www.sdlottery.org

Tennessee
Exactly two years and two months since the launch of the Tennessee Lottery, ticket sales surpassed the $2 billion sales mark.
http://www.tnlottery.com

Texas
August 26 1991 House Bill 54, creating a lottery in Texas, is signed by the Governor in a special session of the 72nd Legislature. The Lottery Act requires voter approval before taking effect.
http://www.txlottery.org

Utah
No State Lottery

Vermont
In 1976 a referendum was held regarding the establishment of a state run lottery. Sixty-six percent of those casting ballots voted to establish a Vermont Lottery. Public Act No. 82 established the Vermont Lottery Commission during the 1977 session of the General Assembly and provided for its termination on June 30, 1980 unless the 1979 Assembly authorized continuation.
http://www.vtlottery.com

Virginia
Mega Millions is as exciting as playing the game! Following a record $363 million Big Game jackpot in 2000, interest in multi-state games was at an all-time high.
http://www.valottery.com

Washington State
Legislation creating Washington's Lottery was signed on July 16, 1982, by Governor John Spellman. When this bill (House Bill No. 1251, supporting the establishment of a lottery for Washington State) first came before the Legislature, it was a time of recession both in Washington State and, in fact, throughout much of the country.
http://www.walottery.com

West Virginia
State voters approved the Lottery Amendment to the West Virginia Constitution on November 6, 1984 by a vote of 67% for the issue to 33% against. The West Virginia Legislature passed the Lottery Act in April 1985, which was signed in May by Gov. Arch A. Moore, Jr. The first instant tickets were sold on January 9, 1986. More than 1.5 million tickets were sold the first day.
http://www.state.wv.us/lottery

Wisconsin
Over the years, the Wisconsin Lottery has generated more than $6.398 billion in total revenue. At least 95% of that revenue has gone back to the people of Wisconsin. That money stays in Wisconsin's economy for the good of everyone.
http://www.wilottery.com/index.asp

Special thanks to WikiPedia for all the great info!

About Gamblers Search - Top Sites - Advertise - Add Site - Help - Online Gaming Blog