Minnesota State Lottery

The Minnesota Lottery is the official lottery of Minnesota. The Minnesota Lottery was established in 1988 through a successful voter referendum that approved two constitutional amendments: One created the Minnesota State Lottery and the other created the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF). The ENRTF was established to enhance, protect and restore Minnesota’s environment and wildlife. The Lottery began operation on April 17, 1990 when the first scratch ticket, Match 3, went on sale. Since then, the Lottery has expanded its game portfolio to include lotto games, Progressive Print-N-Play, along with a variety scratch games with different play styles and price points. In 1990, Minnesotans approved another constitutional amendment to dedicate 40 percent of lottery proceeds to the ENRTF. Minnesota Constitution, Article XI, Section 14, Environment and natural resources fund: “A permanent environment and natural resources trust fund is established in the state treasury. Loans may be made of up to five percent of the principal of the fund for water system improvements as provided by law. The assets of the fund shall be appropriated by law for the public purpose of protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state's air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources. The amount appropriated each year of a biennium, commencing on July 1 in each odd-numbered year and ending on and including June 30 in the next odd-numbered year, may be up to 5-1/2 percent of the market value of the fund on June 30 one year before the start of the biennium. Not less than 40 percent of the net proceeds from any state-operated lottery must be credited to the fund until the year 2025.” [Adopted, November 8, 1988; Amended, November 6, 1990; November 3, 1998] The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) makes the funding recommendations to the legislature from the ENRTF. The remaining 60 percent of proceeds is appropriated at the discretion of the Minnesota Legislature and is currently dedicated to the General Fund, which helps finance state services, including education, health and human services and public safety. In addition, a 6.5 percent in-lieu-of-sales tax on lottery tickets is available for legislative appropriation. Under current law, these proceeds are divided between the General Fund, the Natural Resources Fund and the Game and Fish Fund. The Natural Resources Fund appropriation is divided between state parks and trails, metropolitan parks and trails, local parks and the state’s three zoos. There are currently more than 3,000 businesses in Minnesota that sell lottery products. Lottery can be found in many grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores and the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. The minimum age to purchase Minnesota Lottery tickets is 18.

Where the Money Goes

Since 1990, the Lottery has generated more than $3 billion for Minnesota. According to the Lottery’s Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report, Lottery sales reached a record of $636.8 million. The money was distributed as follows:

Prizes Paid: $395.6 million

Payment to Retailers: $41.8 million

Administration Costs: $29.2 million

Ticket and Online Vendor Expense: $17.6 million

Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund: $39.8 million

General Fund: $81.6 million

Game and Fish Fund: $15 million

Natural Resources Fund: $15 million

Responsible Gambling Initiatives: $1.8 million

Current Lotto Games

Minnesota-only games

Daily 3:

Daily 3 is drawn daily at approximately 6:17 p.m. CT. Tickets must be purchased by 6:10 p.m. CT. Players can choose their numbers, play style and wager amount.

Gopher 5:

Gopher 5 is drawn on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at approximately 6:17 p.m. CT. Tickets must be purchased by 6:10 p.m. CT on drawing days. Jackpots start at $100,000 and grow until won. Players choose five numbers from 1 – 47.

Northstar Cash:

Northstar Cash is also drawn daily at approximately 6:17 p.m. CT. Tickets must be purchased by 6:10 p.m. Jackpots start at $25,000 and grow until won. Players choose five numbers from 1-31.

Minnesota Millionaire Raffle:

Raffle is a seasonal game that’s offered once per year. Ticket sales generally begin in October or November. Minnesota Lottery began offering the annual Minnesota Millionaire Raffle game in 2006, which includes a limited number of tickets and guaranteed prizes.

Multi-state games

Powerball:

Since 1990, Minnesota has been a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), which is the organization that began Powerball in 1992. Powerball is drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays at 9:59 p.m. Tickets must be purchased by 9 p.m. on drawing days. Jackpots start at $40 million and grow until won. Players select five numbers from 1 – 69 and a Powerball of 1-26. Since 1990, Minnesota has had 22 Powerball jackpot winners.

Mega Millions:

On October 13, 2009, the Mega Millions consortium and MUSL reached an agreement in principle to cross-sell Mega Millions and Powerball in U.S. lottery jurisdictions. Minnesota added Mega Millions on January 31, 2010, the cross-sell expansion date. Mega Millions' most recent format change took place in October 2017. Jackpots begin at $40 million and grow until won. Drawings are Tuesdays and Fridays at 10 p.m. Tickets must be purchased by 9 p.m. on drawing days.

Lucky for Life:

Lucky for Life is offered by 26 lotteries. Players select five numbers from 1-48 and a sixth number (Lucky Ball) from 1-18. Prizes range from $3 to $1,000 per day for life.

Lotto America:

Lotto America replaced Hot Lotto in November 2017. Lotto America is offered by 13 lotteries. Drawings are Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:15 p.m. Tickets must be purchased by 9 p.m. on drawing days. To play, select five numbers from 1-52 and a Star Ball from 1-10. Minnesota has had one jackpot winner since 2018. Minnesota has had two Lotto America jackpot winners.

Progressive Print-N-Play:

The Lottery launched Progressive Print-N-Play in August 2010, which replaced Print-N-Play. The game originally debuted as GS in January 2004. Progressive Print-N-Play is an instant win style game that is printed from lottery terminals like a traditional lotto game. Progressive Print-N-Play is available in three different play styles (Crossword, Bingo and Slingo) and available in a $1, $3, or $5 price point. All tickets share the progressive jackpot, which begins at $5,000 and grows until won.

Scratch Games

The Minnesota Lottery offers a variety of scratchcard games known as scratch games with different themes, prices, play styles and prizes.

Claiming Prizes

All scratch game prizes must be claimed within one year of a scratch game end date. Lotto game prizes must be claimed within one year of the drawing. Lottery prizes $599 or less can be claimed at any lottery retailer, by mail, or at Lottery headquarters in Roseville. Winners of prizes $600 or more must fill out a claim form. These prizes can be claimed by mail, at Lottery headquarters in Roseville, or at any regional office. Prizes over $50,000 must be claimed in person and Lottery headquarters.

Unclaimed Prizes

Unclaimed prize money goes to the state’s General Fund. The answer is different for Powerball, Mega Millions, and Lotto America jackpots. Unclaimed jackpots for these games would go back to the participating states based on the percentage of sales that they contributed to the prize fund. The Lottery transferred $10.4 million to the General Fund in unclaimed prize money during FY19.

References
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