 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1986 |
| Jurisdiction | State of Oregon |
| Motto | When you play, Oregon wins. Together, we do good things. |
| Website | www |
The Oregon Lottery is run by the government of the U.S. state of Oregon.
| | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1986 |
| Jurisdiction | State of Oregon |
| Motto | When you play, Oregon wins. Together, we do good things. |
| Website | www |
The Oregon Lottery is run by the government of the U.S. state of Oregon.
The Oregon Lottery was authorized by “Oregon Ballot Measure 5” which was passed by voters in the 1984 general election. The measure amended the Oregon Constitution to allow a state lottery to be created. The Lottery began in April 1985; [1] [2] [3] eventually offering two types of games: scratch-it tickets, and a drawing game, Megabucks. The Lottery has introduced many games, while removing those that were not successful. In fiscal year 2006, the Lottery's sales reached $1 billion for the first time.
The following games (including those retired) have been offered by the Lottery: [4]
The allocation of lottery profits is determined by Oregon voters, who approve the broad categories that may receive Oregon Lottery funds. [5] Constitutional amendments have allowed using lottery funds for economic development (Oregon Ballot Measure 4 in 1984), public education (Oregon Ballot Measure 21 in May 1995) and natural resource programs (Oregon Ballot Measure 66 in 1998). [5] In 2016, Oregon voter approved Measure 96 that amended the state constitution to set aside 1.5 percent of Oregon's lottery funds for veterans programs. Measure 96 passed with 84 percent of voters in favoring the amendment. [6] [7] The Oregon State Legislature and Governor appropriate the remainder of lottery funds within those categories during each legislative session. [5]
As of 2012, over $5 billion of lottery proceeds have gone to public education, $2 billion to economic development, $900 million to natural resources (including Oregon State Parks and watersheds), and over $50 million for problem gambling treatment programs. [5]
Oregon dedicates about 1% of lottery proceeds for problem gambling prevention and treatment programs. [8]
Like other U.S. lotteries (and gambling in general), the Oregon Lottery has drawn its share of controversy. Topics of debate include: the morality of legalized, government-sponsored gambling; the disproportionate economic impact that gambling (of all kinds) has on the poor; and, the suitability of lottery dollars as an alternative (to taxes) revenue source. [9] Several issues have been unique to Oregon, however.
In 2009, the lottery was criticized for calling its most frequent players "loyal customers", when many of them may in fact be problem gamblers that contribute a large percentage of revenues. [10]
Other controversies include the 1992 introduction of video poker machines, which may be installed in a wide number of locations, such as bars and other adults-only establishments. In 2005, the lottery added electronic slot machines. [11]
In 1989, the lottery added Sports Action, a parlay game allowing wagers on National Football League (NFL) games. The reaction from the sports world was negative. The NFL was highly displeased by this move, though legally powerless to stop the Oregon Lottery as the game took care to avoid infringing upon any NFL trademark (no NFL team names were used; NFL teams were identified by city). They even stated that Oregon would never have an NFL team as long as the betting continued. [12] The revenues were used to provide funding to intercollegiate athletics in the state. [12]
In 1990, National Basketball Association (NBA) games were added (excluding games involving the Portland Trail Blazers.) This prompted a lawsuit from the NBA; however, betting on basketball did not prove financially viable, and the lottery discontinued NBA betting the following year (settling the lawsuit with the NBA thereafter). Still, wagering on football proved highly successful for Oregon, bringing in over $2 million yearly in proceeds. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), long opposed to sports betting, took the position that no post-season basketball games (which are played at neutral sites) would be held in Oregon so long as Sports Action was available; [12] the NBA criticized Oregon even after its wagering on NBA games was discontinued.
Many proponents of the lottery rebuffed such criticism, noting that the Oregon Lottery, with a maximum wager of $20, was "small potatoes" compared to the Las Vegas sports book and the various illegal sports books throughout the country. Further, it had been pointed out that the overwhelming popularity of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is driven by office pools and other forms of gambling.
In 1997, a bill was introduced to eliminate the lottery game, [12] but was not enacted into law. In 2005, House Bill 3466 was passed by the Oregon State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Ted Kulongoski; this bill outlawed Sports Action game as of the conclusion of the 2006–2007 NFL season. [13] As a result, the Rose Garden arena was awarded regional games in the 2009 NCAA men's basketball tournament. [14]
In the United States, lotteries are run by 48 jurisdictions: 45 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Florida Lottery is the government-operated lottery of the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2022, the lottery offers eleven terminal-generated games: Cash4Life, Mega Millions, Powerball, Florida Lotto, Pick 2, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, Fantasy 5, Cash Pop, and Jackpot Triple Play. Participants must be 18 or older to play.
A sportsbook is a venue where a gambler can wager on various sports competitions, such as golf, football, basketball, baseball, ice hockey, soccer, horse racing, greyhound racing, boxing, and mixed martial arts. The method of betting varies with the sport and the type of game. In the US, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 allowed only Nevada, Oregon, Montana, and Delaware to legally wager on sports other than horse racing, greyhound racing, and jai alai; the law was ruled unconstitutional on May 14, 2018, freeing states to legalize sports betting at their discretion.
The California State Lottery began in October 1985 after voters authorized it in Proposition 37, the California State Lottery Act of 1984. It offers a range of games including number draws, scratchcards and a mock horse race. The earnings provide supplementary funding for public education.
In the United States, gambling is subject to a variety of legal restrictions. In 2008, gambling activities generated gross revenues of $92.27 billion in the United States.
North Carolina has one of the United States' youngest lottery systems, having been enacted in 2005. The North Carolina State Lottery Act created the 9-member Lottery commission who was charged with overseeing all aspects of the education lottery. 100% of North Carolina Lottery net proceeds go directly to benefit the state's education, with the current figure sitting at more than $10 billion since its inception in 2006. By law, lottery funds go to pay for school construction, need-based college financial aid, transportation, salaries for non-instructional support staff, and pre-kindergarten for at-risk four-year-olds. The State Lottery Act outlines how each and every dollar produced by the lottery will be spent. The revenue distributions are as follows: 51% was paid out in prizes, 38% was transferred into the education fund, 7% was paid to the retailers who sold lottery tickets, and 4% went to general lottery expenses.
The DC Lottery is run by the government of the District of Columbia, in the United States. The DC Lottery is a charter member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL). Games offered include DC 2, DC 3, DC 4, DC 5, Powerball, Mega Millions, Lucky for Life, DC Keno, Race2Riches, The Lucky One, DC Fast Play, DC Tap-N-Play, and DC Scratchers.
The Maine Lottery is run by the government of Maine. It is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), whose flagship game is Powerball. It was founded in 1974 after being approved through a voter referendum.
The Montana Lottery is run by the government of Montana. It is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL). The Montana Lottery's portfolio consists of scratch tickets, plus Mega Millions, Powerball, Lotto America, Montana Millionaire, Lucky for Life, Big Sky Bonus, Montana Sports Action, Treasure Play and Montana Cash.
The New Hampshire Lottery was established in 1964, making it the third-oldest lottery in the United States, and the oldest in the contiguous United States. New Hampshire's lottery games include Lucky for Life, Mega Millions, Powerball, Tri-State Megabucks Plus, and numerous scratch tickets. All New Hampshire Lottery games require players to be at least 18 years old.
The West Virginia Lottery is run by the government of West Virginia. It was established in 1984 via a voter referendum. It is a charter member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL). The Lottery offers games such as Lotto America, Powerball, Mega Millions, and scratch tickets. West Virginia has reinterpreted the amendment to its Constitution that permitted its lottery to include casinos, and thus the West Virginia Lottery Commission also regulates slot machines, which are marketed as "video lottery" and available at several hundred businesses; and five "lottery table games" casinos.
The Delaware Lottery is run by the government of Delaware. Its creation was authorized by the state legislature on May 31, 1974. Its "traditional" games include Play 3, Play 4, Multi-Win Lotto, Lucky For Life, Lotto America, Mega Millions, and Powerball. Delaware also offers Keno, sports betting, and video lottery.
The Louisiana Lottery Corporation (LLC) is a government-run lottery that is used to generate revenue without increasing taxes. The proceeds of the Lottery go to the Minimum Foundation Program that funds public education in Louisiana. The daily activities involved with running the cooperation are handled by the president of the Louisiana Lottery Cooperation. The president is under the supervision of the Lottery's nine-member governing board of directors.
The Rhode Island Lottery is run by the government of Rhode Island. The modern form of the Rhode Island Lottery was inaugurated in 1974, following a constitutional amendment passed in 1973. It is a charter member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL). Rhode Island Lottery games include Mega Millions, Powerball, Wild Money, Keno, and scratch tickets. The Rhode Island Lottery also offers online lottery games and oversees and regulates video lottery as well as sports betting.
The Colorado Lottery is run by the state government of Colorado. It is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association(MUSL).
The Kentucky Lottery, began in April 1989 after a November 1988 vote in which over 60% of voters cast ballots in favor of it. On April 4, 1989, ticket sales began at over 5,000 licensed retailers with over $5 million in sales on the first day. Kentucky Lottery players had two Scratch-off games to choose from, including, Beginner's Luck ($1) and Kentucky Derby Dreamstakes ($2).
The Virginia Lottery is an independent agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It was created in 1987 when Virginians voted in a statewide referendum in favor of a state lottery. The first ticket was sold on September 20, 1988. All profits from Virginia Lottery ticket sales go to K-12 public education, as required by Virginia's constitution. In Fiscal Year 2024, the Lottery's profits totaled more than $934 million, accounting for approximately 10 percent of school funding in Virginia. That brought total Lottery profits in Virginia to more than $16 billion.
The Massachusetts Lottery was established on September 27, 1971, following the legalization of gambling by the Massachusetts General Court, the legislature of the Commonwealth. The Lottery is administered by the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission. It is a member of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL) since 1972.
Gambling in Oregon relates to the laws, regulations, and authorized forms of gambling.
The Mississippi State Lottery is a lottery authorized by the Alyce G. Clarke Mississippi Lottery Law in 2018. It is administered by the Mississippi Lottery Corporation. The corporation expected to begin scratch off sales by December 1, 2019, with sales of draw game tickets in 2020. However, this was bought forward to November 25th as announced by Mississippi Lottery Corporation. On August 2, 2019, the Mississippi Lottery Corporation announced its acceptance into the Multi-State Lottery Association, with sales of Mega Millions and Powerball beginning on January 30, 2020.