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]
The Vermont Lottery is expected to offer keno beginning in 2012; it would be the first Vermont-only draw game since Lotto Vermont, a pick-6-of-30 game, was offered in the early 1990s.
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 replaced by Weekly Grand.[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 |
| Weekly Grand† | 6:45 pm | Tuesday & Friday 6:50 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.
National draw games (44 members each)
Note: 43 lotteries offer both games; California offers Mega Millions, while Florida offers Powerball.
Mega Millions
Main article: Mega Millions
In October 2009, the Mega Millions consortium and MUSL reached an agreement to cross-sell Mega Millions and Powerball in US lottery jurisdictions. 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.
Powerball
Main article: Powerball
In 2003, the Vermont Lottery added Powerball, which began in 1992. Jackpots begin at $40 million; the game is drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Other draw games
Hot Lotto (15 members)
Main article: Hot Lotto
Hot Lotto, begun in 2002, was introduced to Vermont in 2009. As with Powerball, Hot Lotto is drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays. Hot Lotto draws five "white ball" numbers from 1 through 39, and a "Hot Ball" number from 1 through 19. Jackpots begin at $1,000,000, increasing by at least $50,000 per rollover. Its multiplier, Sizzler, triples non-jackpot prizes.
Hot Lotto, in early 2013, is expected to either change its double matrices (presumably to create larger jackpots) or be retired.
Lucky for Life (future; 6 members)
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 $1000-per-day for life; multiple winners split the prize. Unlike Weekly Grand Extra, Lucky for Life does not offer a cash option.
Tri-State 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 to 6. Games cost $2; minimum jackpot is $1,000,000. Drawings are Wednesdays and Saturdays.
References
- ^ Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2005, 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, 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 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