Verticals / Lottery
Lottery
State lotteries are legal and live in 45 states and DC, as of Oct 11, 2026.
State lottery (draw games, scratch, retail).
LiveLegal, not launchedLimitedContestedProhibitedNot authorizedRepealedNA
By state
| State | Status | Launched | Model | Current tax | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Live | Jul 1, 1981 | Monopoly State | Created by voter-approved Proposition 200 (Nov. 1980); first instant scratch tickets ("Scratch It Rich") sold July 1, 1981. Joined Powerball April 4, 1994 and Mega Millions April 18, 2010. | |
| Arkansas | Live | 2009 | Monopoly State | Amendment 87 was approved 648,122-383,467 (about 63%-37%) on November 4, 2008, authorizing the state to establish, operate, and regulate a lottery to fund the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program (college scholarships/grants for Arkansas residents). Ticket sales and scholarship funding began in 2009; more than $1.1-1.4 billion in scholarship proceeds had been raised as of recent reporting. A 2024 companion amendment (Issue 1/Amendment 2024, approved ~89.6%, effective January 1, 2025) expanded eligible uses of lottery proceeds to vocational-technical schools and technical institutes, which the original 2008 text had excluded. | |
| California | Live | 1985 | Monopoly State | Created by Proposition 37 (Nov. 1984); the Lottery Act requires that 87% of total sales return to the public as prizes and contributions to public education combined. | |
| Colorado | Live | Jan 24, 1983 | Monopoly State | Draw games, scratch (Scratch), and multistate games; proceeds fund Great Outdoors Colorado, public school capital construction, and conservation trust fund. | |
| Connecticut | Live | 1972 | Monopoly State | Connecticut Lottery Corporation runs scratch and draw games including multistate Powerball and Mega Millions; legislature authorized the lottery in 1971 and sales began in 1972. FY2015 gross sales were $1.1B with $707M paid in prizes. | |
| Delaware | Live | Mar 1, 1975 | Monopoly State | Created by the General Assembly May 31, 1974. | |
| District of Columbia | Live | 1982 | Monopoly State | DC Lottery has operated since 1982 and has awarded more than $5 billion in prizes; member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL). | |
| Florida | Live | Jan 12, 1988 | Monopoly State | Voters approved a constitutional amendment creating the lottery on 1986-11-04; first ticket sales and drawing followed in January-March 1988. Member of multistate games including Powerball (added 2009) and Mega Millions (added 2013). | |
| Georgia | Live | 1992 | Monopoly State | Created by the Lottery for Education Act in November 1992; funds the HOPE Scholarship/grant programs and the Georgia Pre-K Program. | |
| Idaho | Live | Jul 1989 | Monopoly State | Created by a 1988 citizen initiative; first ticket sold July 1989 (confirmed via the Lottery's own agency performance report, fetched directly). Sells Powerball, Mega Millions, Lotto America, and Millionaire for Life plus in-state draw/scratch games. | |
| Illinois | Live | Jul 30, 1974 | Monopoly State | No fixed tax rate; Illinois Lottery operates on a profit-transfer model under the private manager agreement (20 ILCS 1605/9.1) rather than a statutory tax rate. OTHER | Run under a private-manager management agreement (currently Camelot Illinois, selected 2017) per 20 ILCS 1605/9.1; draw games, scratch-offs, and retail sales statewide. |
| Indiana | Live | Oct 28, 1989 | Monopoly State | Hoosier Lottery created by 1988 constitutional amendment lifting Indiana's 1851 lottery ban; retail draw games, scratch-offs, and multistate games. | |
| Iowa | Live | Monopoly State | Draw games (Powerball, Powerball Xs & Os, Mega Millions, Lotto America, Millionaire For Life, Pick 3, Pick 4), scratch games, InstaPlay, and pull-tabs sold through authorized retailers only. | ||
| Kansas | Live | Monopoly State | Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to authorize a state-owned and -operated lottery; the Legislature then enacted the Kansas Lottery Act. Added on audit (2026-10-10): Kansas is an original participant (since June 2002, alongside Nebraska) in 2by2, a MUSL regional daily-draw game also offered by Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wyoming. | ||
| Kentucky | Live | Apr 4, 1989 | Monopoly State | Kentucky Lottery ticket sales began April 4, 1989, 'at over 5,000 licensed retailers.' | |
| Louisiana | Live | 1991 | Monopoly State | Louisiana voters approved a constitutional amendment creating a lottery, and sales resumed in September/October 1991 (secondary sources give both 1990 and 1991 for the authorizing vote; the Lottery itself dates its relaunch to 1991). This ended the state's prior reliance on neighboring states' lotteries (notably Florida's) for cross-border player spending. | |
| Maine | Live | Jan 1, 1974 | Monopoly State | Established in 1974 following voter referendum approval; offers scratch tickets, in-state draw games, "Fast Play" terminal instants (Tri-State compact), and multi-state games (Powerball, Mega Millions). | |
| Maryland | Live | Jan 2, 1973 | Monopoly State | Began operating January 2, 1973; multistate games include Powerball (joined Jan. 2010 cross-sell expansion), Mega Millions (from 1996 as "The Big Game," renamed 2002), and Cash4Life (joined Jan. 26, 2016). | |
| Massachusetts | Live | Mar 22, 1972 | Monopoly State | Created by the Legislature in Sept. 1971; first ticket sales began Mar 22, 1972; first drawing held Apr 6, 1972 at Faneuil Hall. Among the largest lotteries in the US by per-capita sales. | |
| Michigan | Live | Nov 13, 1972 | Monopoly State | Michigan Lottery sales began with the "Green Ticket" game on November 13, 1972, established under 1972 PA 239. | |
| Minnesota | Live | Apr 17, 1990 | Monopoly State | Created by a 1988 constitutional amendment (~59% approval); first ticket sales April 17, 1990. A 1990 companion amendment dedicates 40% of net proceeds to the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, with the remainder to the general fund. | |
| Mississippi | Live | Nov 25, 2019 | Monopoly State | Enacted in a special legislative session in August 2018 (House passed 58-54 on Aug. 28, 2018); scratch-off ticket sales began Nov. 25, 2019, ahead of a planned Dec. 1, 2019 target, with more than 1,200 retailers at launch and over $2.5 million in first-day sales. Proceeds initially fund road/bridge infrastructure (via the state highway fund) up to a statutory cap, then the Education Enhancement Fund. | |
| Missouri | Live | Jan 20, 1986 | Monopoly State | Voters created the lottery in 1984; sales began January 1986. Proceeds went to General Revenue until Amendment 11 (1992) earmarked 100% of profits for public education starting FY1994. | |
| Montana | Live | Jun 24, 1987 | Monopoly State | Created by voter-approved Legislative Referendum 100 (Nov. 4, 1986, ~69% yes in all 56 counties); first ticket sold June 24, 1987. Offers Powerball, Mega Millions (since 2010), Lotto America, and in-state draw/scratch games. | |
| Nebraska | Live | Monopoly State | Draw games (Powerball, Mega Millions, Pick 5, Lotto America, Millionaire for Life, Pick 3, Pick 4, 2by2, MyDaY) and scratch games; minimum age 19 (lower than the state's 21+ casino/sports-wagering age). | ||
| New Hampshire | Live | Jan 1, 1964 | Monopoly State | Established as the New Hampshire Sweepstakes in 1964, the first legal state lottery in the modern US; offers draw games, scratch tickets, and multi-state games (Powerball, Mega Millions). | |
| New Jersey | Live | Dec 16, 1970 | Monopoly State | NJ Lottery Commission formed Nov. 20, 1969; first draw game (Pick-3) began May 22, 1975, instant/scratch games since June 16, 1975. | |
| New Mexico | Live | 1996 | Monopoly State | Created by legislation signed April 5, 1995 (Lottery Board of Directors appointed August 14, 1995; first CEO began work November 20, 1995); Powerball launched October 20, 1996. Current in-house draw games include Roadrunner Cash, Pick 3 Plus and Pick 4 Plus, plus scratchers; net proceeds benefit the Legislative Lottery Scholarship program. | |
| New York | Live | Monopoly State | Conducted by the Gaming Commission; proceeds dedicated to education aid. Establishment date not independently confirmed in this research pass (commonly cited as 1967, the second US state lottery after New Hampshire). | ||
| North Carolina | Live | 2006 | Monopoly State | North Carolina Education Lottery began ticket sales in 2006; proceeds earmarked for education. | |
| North Dakota | Live | Jan 1, 2004 | Monopoly State | North Dakota is unique in selling no in-state draw games: a 2002 constitutional amendment, approved by about 63% of voters, authorizes the state only to join a multi-state lottery "for the benefit of the State of North Dakota." Sales began in 2004. Powerball was the first game offered. | |
| Ohio | Live | Aug 1, 1974 | Monopoly State | Created by voter-approved constitutional amendment in May 1973; first ticket sales (Buckeye 300) began August 1974. Minimum purchase age 18 (ORC 3770.08(C)). | |
| Oklahoma | Live | Oct 12, 2005 | Monopoly State | Approved by voters in Nov. 2004 (SQ 705 created the Lottery Commission; SQ 706 created the Lottery Trust Fund for education); ticket sales began Oct. 12, 2005. | |
| Oregon | Live | 1985 | Monopoly State | Created by a 1984 initiative petition establishing the Oregon State Lottery and a five-member State Lottery Commission. | |
| Pennsylvania | Live | Mar 15, 1972 | Monopoly State | Dedicated to programs for older Pennsylvanians (property tax/rent rebates, transit, long-term care). | |
| Rhode Island | Live | 1974 | Monopoly State | The modern Rhode Island Lottery was inaugurated in 1974 following a 1973 constitutional amendment; colonial-era lotteries had run until an 1842 ban. RI was a charter (1987) member of the Multi-State Lottery Association; it joined Mega Millions Jan. 31, 2010, and offers Powerball and the current Lucky for Life format (since Jan. 27, 2015). Former multistate games included Lotto America, Daily Millions, Cashola, and MegaHits (a VLT progressive jackpot game that ran 2011 to July 31, 2018). | |
| South Carolina | Live | Jan 7, 2002 | Monopoly State | First draw January 7, 2002; joined Powerball October 9, 2002 and Mega Millions January 31, 2010. Net proceeds fund K-12 and higher-education programs, scholarships, and school buses via the Education Lottery Account. | |
| South Dakota | Live | Apr 2, 1987 | Monopoly State | Voters approved a constitutional amendment authorizing a lottery Nov. 4, 1986; enabling legislation signed April 2, 1987. Draw-game ("lotto") net proceeds split 70% General Fund / 30% Capital Construction Fund since 2018 (previously the first $1.4M went to the General Fund). | |
| Tennessee | Live | Monopoly State | Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation operates the state lottery (draw games, scratch-offs). | ||
| Texas | Live | May 29, 1992 | Monopoly State | Authorized by the State Lottery Act (Government Code Ch. 466) following a 1991 constitutional amendment. Administration transferred from the now-abolished Texas Lottery Commission to TDLR effective 2025-09-01 under SB 3070. Draw games include Powerball, Mega Millions, Lotto Texas, Texas Two Step, Pick 3, Daily 4, Cash Five, All or Nothing, and Lone Star Lineup, plus scratch tickets. A 100-ticket-per-transaction purchase limit was imposed in 2025 amid the courier controversy. | |
| Vermont | Live | Oct 1, 1977 | Monopoly State | Authorized by a 1976 referendum and 1977 Act No. 82; began fiscal operations Oct. 1977; first game (Green Mountain Game) launched Feb. 1978. "Pick 3," the Lottery's first daily "online" (terminal-based) game, launched Nov. 10, 1980. Lottery statute specifically bars any lottery game whose outcome depends on an athletic contest (31 V.S.A. §651(1)). | |
| Virginia | Live | Sep 20, 1988 | Monopoly State | Virginia Lottery created by 1987 voter referendum/constitutional amendment; sales began Sept. 1988. | |
| Washington | Live | 1982 | Monopoly State | Created by voter initiative in 1982. Initiative 728 (2000) redirected a portion of lottery/gambling revenue toward education. | |
| West Virginia | Live | Jan 9, 1986 | Monopoly State | Established by 1984 voter referendum; first drawing January 9, 1986. Multistate games include Powerball, Mega Millions, and Lotto America (formerly Hot Lotto, discontinued Oct. 28, 2017). | |
| Wisconsin | Live | Sep 16, 1988 | Monopoly State | Legislature authorized the lottery in 1988 per Wisconsin Lottery's own history; a Dept. of Revenue-run game funding property-tax relief. (One secondary source on Oneida Nation's own history states the statewide lottery "did not begin operations until 1991" -- this conflicts with the more lottery-specific source used here; flagged for follow-up.) | |
| Wyoming | Live | Aug 24, 2014 | Monopoly State | Gov. Matt Mead authorized creation of the Wyoming Lottery Corporation (WyoLotto) on Mar. 13, 2013; first ticket sold in Sheridan on Aug. 24, 2014, offering Powerball and Mega Millions. Cowboy Draw (in-state, 2015), Lucky for Life (2016), 2by2 (2021), and KENO (2022) followed. | |
| Nevada | Prohibited | Nevada's 1864 Constitution copied California's lottery ban; it is the only state whose constitution specifically bars a state lottery, and remains one of five states with no lottery. A 1990 amendment carved out charitable raffles/drawings only. A repeal resolution (AJR5) passed the Legislature in 2023 and needed a second passage before going to voters, expected as a 2026 ballot question. | |||
| Utah | Prohibited | The constitutional ban on any "lottery" run or authorized by the state has never been repealed; a 2024 resolution to allow a state lottery (H.J.R. 24) died in the House. | |||
| Alabama | Not authorized | Alabama Constitution Art. IV, Section 65 bars the legislature from authorizing lotteries or gift enterprises; a constitutional amendment and statewide referendum are required. The 1999 lottery referendum failed. Alabama is the only state in the eastern U.S. without a lottery following Mississippi's adoption. Comprehensive packages pairing a lottery with casinos/sports betting have repeatedly passed the House but died in the Senate (2024 HB 151/152). Two first-read-stage 2026 bills (SB257, HB448) would authorize a lottery via constitutional amendment; see legislation.pending_summary. Status remains not_authorized because neither has been enacted or referred to voters. | |||
| Alaska | Not authorized | Alaska has no state lottery; it is one of a small handful of states without one. | |||
| Hawaii | Not authorized | Hawaii is one of six U.S. states with no state-run lottery; legislative proposals have been repeatedly rejected. |