Mission and History
1976
In 1976 a referendum was held regarding the establishment of a state run lottery. Sixty-six percent of those casting ballots voted in favor of the referendum.
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.
1978
The Vermont Lottery Commission was granted $250,000 seed money. It took the lottery seven months from inception of the lottery to produce the first ticket and eighteen months to pay back the $250,000.
The first game (Green Mountain Game) went on sale February 14, 1978. This game involved a weekly drawing. A winner was established by the matching of the pre-printed numbers on the ticket to the numbers drawn. The first instant ticket (Scratch 'N Match) went on sale June 20, 1978.
1979
During the 1979 legislative session, the Vermont Lottery was extended for another three years. After a steady growth in sales the General Assembly, during the 1981 session, authorized the indefinite continuation of the Vermont Lottery Commission.
1998
From February 1978 to July 1998, all profits generated by the Vermont Lottery were dedicated for use by the state’s General Fund. In July 1998 the Vermont Legislature mandated that all profits from the Vermont Lottery go to the state’s Education Fund.
Today the Vermont Lottery continues to be run by a small, efficient staff of professionals consisting of 21 full-time employees, with oversight from five commissioners, who are appointed by the Governor and approved by the Vermont Senate. It is still one of the smallest staffs of any lottery in the United States.
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Vermont Lottery Commissioner and Directors
Alan R. Yandow, Executive Director
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General Information
When the General Assembly established the Lottery in 1977, after a statewide referendum, the Lottery’s stated purpose in the enabling legislation was to “produce the maximum amount of net revenue consonant with the dignity of the state and the general welfare of the people.” In support of this goal, the Vermont Lottery remains committed to contributing all proceeds to the Education Fund, while also strongly communicating the importance of responsible gaming.
Since the sale of the first ticket in February of 1978, the Vermont Lottery has produced over $1.6 billion in overall sales. From those sales, over $1 billion has been returned to players in the form of prizes, over $91 million has gone back to the local communities and been paid to local Lottery agents in the form of commissions, and over $430 million has gone to the State of Vermont (Education Fund since FY 1999).
The staff and Commissioners of the Vermont Lottery are proud of their past contributions to the State of Vermont, and look forward to increasing the contributions to the state’s Education Fund in the next fiscal year, and beyond.
Powerball, Megabucks Plus!, Mega Millions, Weekly Grand, Hot Lotto, Paycheck, Fast Play, Pick 3, and Pick 4 players have one year from the winning draw date to claim their prizes and Instant Scratch Ticket players have one year from the end of the game. All unclaimed Tri-State game money goes back to the players.
A player can collect up to and including $499 on instant and on-line winnings from the retailer. Any amount over that may be claimed at the Vermont Lottery headquarters. Vermont Chittenden Banks can redeem any instant cash prize of $200 and up to $5,000 and any on-line cash prize from $500 to $5,000.
Vermont Lottery Agents receive a 5.75% sales commission on all Tri-State games and instant ticket sales; they also receive a 6% sales commission on all Multi State Lottery Association ticket sales. Agents also receive a 1% bonus (capped at $30,000) for selling a winning Vermont Instant Scratch Ticket, Powerball, or Tri-State lottery ticket of $500 or more. The bonus commission is paid when the ticket is claimed.
Players must be 18 years or older to purchase a lottery ticket. Anyone under 18 may receive a lottery ticket as a gift and could therefore collect a prize.
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History of Lottery Games
The Vermont Lottery has released hundreds of Instant Scratch games and offered many different games to consumers. Eight products currently available to Vermont Lottery players are: Instant Tickets, Vermont Powerball, Mega Millions, Hot Lotto, Tri-State Megabucks Plus!, Tri-State Weekly Grand, Tri-State Pick 3, Tri-State Pick 4 and Fast Play.
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Instant Tickets
Instant Scratch tickets create the largest revenue for the Vermont Lottery. Multiple games are on the market at any given time offering players a variety of play styles, top prizes and themes. Instant ticket prices are $1, $2, $3, $5, $10, and $20 with a varied prize payout of 64% to 75%. Top prizes range from $100 to $1,000,000.
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Powerball
Powerball tickets went on sale in Vermont July 1, 2003, with the first drawing held on July 2, 2003.
Powerball has a matrix of 5 of 59 and 1 of 39. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 195.2 million. Players can choose to claim the entire jackpot amount in 30 graduated payments over 29 years or claim a reduced amount as a lump sum payment. Jackpots start at $20,000,000 (paid in annual payments) and continue to roll until won. Other prize levels include a $200,000 second prize and 6 other prize levels with pay outs from $3 to $10,000. One play costs one dollar.
For an additional $1, players may opt to Power Play their ticket, which will multiply prizes (except the jackpot) by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times. The multiplier is determined by a prize wheel at the time of the Powerball drawing, but is always 5 at the $200,000 prize level. The drawings take place Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 PM (ET)
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Mega Millions went on sale in Vermont January 31, 2010, with the first drawing held on February 2, 2010
Mega Millions has a matrix of 5 of 56 and 1 of 46. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 176 million. Players can choose to claim the entire jackpot amount in 26 annual payments or claim a reduced amount as a lump sum payment. Jackpots start at $12,000,000 (paid in annual payments) and continue to roll until won. Other prize levels include a $250,000 second prize and 7 other prize levels with pay outs from $2 to $10,000. One play costs one dollar.
For an additional $1, players may opt to Megaply their ticket, which will multiply prizes (except the jackpot) by 2, 3, or 4 times. The drawings take place Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 PM (ET)
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Megabucks & Megabucks Plus!
Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire formed Tri-State Megabucks in 1985. Sales began on September 3, 1985 and the first draw was held on September 14, 1985. It began with a 6 out of 30 matrix, jackpot odds of 1 in 593,775 and a Saturday night draw. In January 1986, the game was changed to a 6 out of 36 matrix, which increased the odds to 1 in 1.9 million. There was one draw held on Saturday night. In January 1988, the matrix was increased to 6 out of 40, increasing the odds to 1 in 3.8 million. In May 1990, the number of draws increased to twice a week, Wednesday and Saturday. In June 1996, the game was enhanced to include the MegaCash. This option which allows jackpot winners to take their share of the money available in the jackpot prize pool in a one-time-only, lump sum payment. Players must decide within 60 days of claiming the jackpot how they want to receive their winnings.
Megabucks Plus!
In July 2009, Megabucks was replaced with Megabucks Plus!. Presently, Megabucks Plus! is a 5 out of 41 game with a Megaball. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 4.5 million. Players can choose to claim the entire jackpot amount over 25 years or claim approximately half in a one-time-only, lump sum payment (MegaCash). Other prize levels include a $30,000 second prize and 6 other lower tier prize levels. One play costs $2. Subscriptions are available.
The draws are held on Wednesday and Saturday nights at 7:59 PM (ET). Megabucks jackpots ranged from $500,000 (guaranteed) to our largest which was $16.4 million. Megabucks Plus! Jackpots start at $1,000,000 and estimates grow from $1,000,000 to $1,050,000 to $1,100,000 and by approximately $50,000 to $100,000 thereafter.
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HOT LOTTO with Sizzler!
Hot Lotto tickets went on sale in Vermont July 5, 2009, with the first drawing held on July 8, 2009.
Hot Lotto has a matrix of 5 of 39 and 1 of 19. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 10.9 million. Players can choose to claim the entire jackpot amount in 30 graduated payments over 29 years or claim a reduced amount as a lump sum payment. Jackpots start at $1,000,000 (paid in annual payments) and continue to roll until won. Other prize levels include a $10,000 second prize and 7 other prize levels with pay outs from $2 to $500. One play costs one dollar. For an additional $1, players may opt to add a Sizzler ticket, which will multiply prizes (except the jackpot) 3 times. The drawings take place Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 PM (ET).
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Tri-State Weekly Grand
Weekly Grand replaced the Tri-State Paycheck game on February 4, 2009. Weekly Grand drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 6:50 PM EST. with a cutoff of 6:45 PM to purchase tickets for that evening's draw.
To play Weekly Grand using a play slip, players mark four numbers from 1 to 35 and 1 Lucky Ball from 1 to 35 on their play slip. Players can play up to five (5) panels on a single play slip at a cost of $2.00 per play. Players may also choose the Easy Pick method and allow the terminal to select their number. The top prize is $1,000 a week for 20 years* (cash option offered); Instant Wins of $5 will be awarded randomly.
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Tri-State Pick 3 and Pick 4 (Daily Numbers)
Pick 3 was the Vermont Lottery's first on-line terminal game. It began on November 10, 1980. Pick 4 began September 3, 1985. Effective June 28, 1995, the daily numbers games, Pick 3 and Pick 4, became Tri-State games. On June 29, 2003, a mid-day draw was added for each game.
Players pick three or four numbers to be played either straight (same order), box (any order) or a combination of both. On September 13, 1998 front pair/back pair was added to the game. In November 2009 a single digit bet was added to Pick 3 and a middle pair bet was added to both Pick 3 and Pick 4. For both Pick 3 and Pick 4, players can wager 50 cents to $5.00 per play. Prizes won range from $25 to $25,000.The draws are conducted at 1:10 PM (ET) and 6:55 PM (ET) Sunday through Saturday.
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