Vermont Lottery
The Vermont Lottery began fiscal operations as an enterprise fund in October 1977, following a 1976 referendum, and the enactment of Public Act No. 82 by the 1977 General Assembly.[1] It is run by the Vermont Lottery Commission, which is headquartered in Berlin, Vermont.[2] Along with Maine and New Hampshire, Vermont is a member of the Tri-State Lottery.[3]
History
Chronology of game introductions:[4]
1978
- February: Green Mountain Game was the lottery's first game, with weekly drawings.
- June: Scratch 'n Match was the Lottery's first instant game.
1980
- November 10: Pick 3 began as the Lottery's first online game; draws were nightly.
September 3, 1985
- Pick 4 began, with nightly draws.
- Tri-State Megabucks began; its first draw was September 14. The partnership with Maine and New Hampshire began.
1990
- Lotto Vermont began; it was drawn Fridays.
1992-1995
- Cash 5; drawn Tuesdays.
1995
- June 28: Pick 3 and Pick 4 became Tri-State games, joining Maine and New Hampshire; 5 Card Cash, also shared with Maine and New Hampshire, replaced Cash 5 and Lotto Vermont.
2002
- WinCash replaced 5 Card Cash.
- Cash Lotto, originally a New Hampshire-only game, replaced WinCash.
2003
- June: Mid-day draws were added for Pick 3 and Pick 4.
- July: The Lottery began offering Powerball. (New Hampshire had joined Powerball in 1995; Maine joined in 2004.)
- November: Heads or Tails, drawn daily, replaced Cash Lotto.
2005
Triple Play, drawn Tuesdays and Fridays, replaced Heads or Tails.
2007
Paycheck replaced Triple Play.
2009
Paycheck ends.[5]
Finances
The Lottery funded about 2% of the 2007 expenditures for education, contributing $23 million[6] of the $1.3 billion school spending.[7] Prior to July 1, 1998, profits from the Lottery went to the government's general fund; since then profits go to the Education Fund.[8]
Games
Players must be 18 or older. Games include scratch tickets, Hot Lotto, Mega Millions, and Powerball.[3] Drawings times (Eastern Time Zone):[9]
| Game | Purchase Cutoff | Draw Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Megabucks† | 7:50 pm | Wednesday & Saturday 7:59 pm |
| Pick 3 & Pick 4† | 1:00 & 6:45 pm | 1:10 & 6:55 pm |
| Mega Millions†† | 9:50 pm | Tuesday & Friday 10:59 pm |
| Powerball††† | 9:50 pm | Wednesday & Saturday 10:59 pm |
†Tri-State games are always drawn in New Hampshire.
††Mega Millions usually is drawn in Atlanta.
†††Powerball usually is drawn in Florida; its home base was Iowa through 2008.
Multistate draw games
Mega Millions
In October 2009, the Mega Millions consortium and MUSL reached an agreement to cross-sell Mega Millions and Powerball in American lotteries wishing to offer both games. The Vermont Lottery added Mega Millions on January 31, 2010, the cross-selling expansion day. Mega Millions is drawn Tuesdays and Fridays; its jackpot starts at $12 million. Players choose 5 of 56 "white ball" numbers, and a gold-colored "Mega Ball"; the latter is numbered 1 through 46.
Mega Millions will change its format on October 19, 2013; its minimum jackpot will be $15 million, with rollovers of at least $5 million. Players will choose 5 of 75 "white ball" numbers, and from 15 "Mega Balls".
Powerball
In 2003, the Vermont Lottery added Powerball, which began in 1992. Jackpots begin at $40 million; the game is drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The Vermont Lottery has yet to produce a jackpot-winning ticket for either Mega Millions or Powerball.
Lucky for Life
In 2009, the Connecticut Lottery began an in-house game, Lucky4Lífe, which expanded throughout New England on March 11, 2012. (Its drawings remain in Connecticut.) The top prize is $1,000-per-day for life; multiple winners split the prize.
On September 17, 2013, Lucky for Life was revamped; changes include a $25,000-per-year second prize. Winners of either annuitized prize level are allowed to choose cash in lieu of the lifetime annuity, unlike the top prize in the previous versions.
In January 2015, Lucky for Life is expected to become a "national" game, with up to 17 members, one more than in Hot Lotto. A larger second prize is planned.
Monopoly Millionaires′ Club (future)
On October 19, 2014, Monopoly Millionaires′ Club will become available through 23 lotteries, including those in Maine, New Hampshire, and New York. Vermont is expected to join in 2015.
Tri-State Lottery Commission draw games
Pick 3 & Pick 4
Pick 3 and Pick 4 are drawn twice daily including Sundays. Prices, prizes and options vary.
Megabucks Plus
Megabucks Plus replaced Megabucks in July 2009; it also uses a 5+1 double matrix. The game draws 5 of 41 balls, plus a megaball from 1 through 6. Games cost $2; minimum jackpot is $1,000,000. Drawings are Wednesdays and Saturdays.
A new format for Megabucks Plus is expected to be unveiled in 2013. The game is expected to change its name, and, as with Hot Lotto, become all-cash.
Gimme5
On May 12, 2013, the day of the Hot Lotto format change, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont will debut Gimme5, which will have a top prize of $100,000 cash, to be split if there are multiple winners. Drawings will be Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
References
- ^ Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2005 Archived October 16, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, Vermont Lottery Commission, p 3, retrieved March 8, 2009
- ^ "Where can I cash my winning Vermont Lottery ticket?", Frequently Asked Questions, Vermont Lottery, retrieved March 8, 2009
- ^ a b Vermont Lottery, Company Description, Hoover's, Inc., retrieved March 8, 2009
- ^ Mission and History, History of Lottery Games, Vermont Lottery Commission, retrieved March 8, 2009
- ^ Weekly Grand Archived April 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Vermont Lottery Commission, retrieved March 8, 2009
- ^ "Where does the money generated by the Vermont Lottery go?", Frequently Asked Questions, Vermont Lottery, retrieved March 8, 2009
- ^ "Lawmakers faced with thorny choices", by Louis Porter, Vermont Press Bureau, January 28, 2007, Rutland Herald, retrieved March 8, 2009
- ^ State Auditor: Lottery is a highly visible government activity Archived August 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine August 3, 2007 by Tom Salmon, CPA, Vermont State Auditor, Retrieved March 8, 2009
- ^ "Where and when are drawings held?", Frequently Asked Questions, Vermont Lottery, retrieved March 8, 2009