Yes, Minnesota does have its own state lottery. The Minnesota State Lottery was created in 1988 through a constitutional amendment approved by voters. Since its inception, the Minnesota Lottery has generated over $3 billion for state programs and projects.
When did the Minnesota lottery start?
The Minnesota State Lottery was authorized in 1988 through the passage of a constitutional amendment, known as the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. This amendment allowed for the creation of the lottery with the purpose of generating funds to support environmental projects in Minnesota. The first lottery tickets went on sale in April of 1990.
Who runs the Minnesota lottery?
The Minnesota State Lottery is run by the Minnesota Lottery Division, which operates under the Minnesota Department of Revenue. The director of the Lottery Division oversees lottery operations and reports to the commissioner of the Department of Revenue. The Lottery Division employs over 100 people who oversee everything from game development and marketing to accounting and information technology.
What lottery games does Minnesota offer?
Minnesota offers a wide variety of lottery games, including:
- Scratch-off tickets – These are instant win tickets that players scratch to reveal prize amounts.
- Online/draw games:
- Powerball – The multi-state jackpot game.
- Mega Millions – Another interstate jackpot game.
- Gopher 5 – An in-state draw game where players pick 5 numbers for a chance to win up to $100,000.
- Northstar Cash – A Minnesota-only game where players pick 5 numbers for a chance at a $50,000 top prize.
- Daily 3 – A daily number game.
- Print N Play – Computer-generated games printed on demand that offer fixed prizes.
- Progressive Print games – Special scratch games that start with higher jackpots.
- Raffle games – Limited ticket sales period and prize drawings.
- Bingo
- Pull-tabs – Paper tickets similar to scratch-offs.
These lottery games offer a variety of price points and prizes to appeal to different types of players.
What is done with Minnesota lottery revenue?
As required by the 1988 amendment that created the lottery, all net proceeds from the Minnesota State Lottery go towards supporting vital state environmental and natural resource projects. The four main funds that receive lottery money are:
- Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund
- Clean Water Fund
- Parks and Trails Fund
- Outdoor Heritage Fund
Since 1990, Minnesota’s lottery has contributed over $3 billion to environmental programs, public spaces, and preservation efforts throughout the state. Some examples of lottery-funded projects include:
- Drinking water protection
- Wastewater infrastructure
- Habitat restoration
- Protecting/expanding parks, trails, and green spaces
- Sustainable agriculture
- Soil and water conservation
- Fighting invasive species
- Scientific research on climate, water resources, renewable energy, etc.
Who can play the Minnesota lottery?
In Minnesota, lottery players must be at least 18 years old to purchase tickets. Tickets may not be sold to intoxicated persons. Players must purchase tickets within the state of Minnesota as lottery tickets are not sold across state lines.
Where can you buy Minnesota lottery tickets?
There are over 3,100 authorized Minnesota Lottery retailers across the state selling lottery tickets. Tickets can be purchased at:
- Convenience stores
- Gas stations
- Grocery stores
- Liquor stores
- Restaurants/bars
- Pharmacies
- Big box stores like Walmart and Target (select locations)
- Dedicated lottery outlets
Players must be in Minnesota to buy tickets. The Lottery also offers subscription services for some draw games so players can have tickets automatically purchased for future draws.
Can you buy Minnesota lottery tickets online?
At this time, Minnesota does not allow online lottery ticket sales or purchases. All lottery tickets must be purchased in-person at authorized retailers. The state is considering launching online purchasing options in the future.
How much of lottery spending goes towards education in Minnesota?
Unlike many other states, Minnesota’s lottery revenue does not fund education. All net proceeds from the Minnesota Lottery go towards environmental programs, as mandated by the 1988 constitutional amendment. While certain individual projects may involve educating the public or students about environmental issues, lottery money does not directly fund schools, teachers, or education administration in Minnesota.
What are the odds of winning the Minnesota lottery?
The odds of winning prizes in Minnesota lottery games vary greatly depending on the game:
| Lottery Game | Odds of Winning Top Prize |
|---|---|
| Powerball | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| Mega Millions | 1 in 302,575,350 |
| Gopher 5 | 1 in 1,547,110 |
| Northstar Cash | 1 in 2,704,946 |
| Daily 3 | Varies – between 1 in 167 to 1 in 1,000 |
For scratch-off and progressive games, overall odds of winning any prize range from about 1 in 4 to 1 in 3. The specific odds are listed on each ticket.
What is the luckiest Minnesota lottery retailer?
According to the Minnesota Lottery, the luckiest lottery retailer in the state based on number of high-tier wins is the Mills Fleet Farm store in Apple Valley. This retailer has sold 16 jackpot winning tickets for Powerball and Mega Millions since 2003 totaling over $62 million in prizes.
Some other Minnesota stores with notably high numbers of major wins include:
- Al’s Center Store, Forada – 14 jackpot wins totaling $55.5 million
- Dick’s Fresh Market, Edina – 13 wins totaling $36 million
- Sami’s Market, Eagan – 10 wins totaling $27.4 million
- Holiday Station, Elk River – 9 wins totaling $20.3 million
What is the biggest Minnesota lottery jackpot ever won?
The largest lottery jackpot linked to Minnesota was a $151 million Powerball jackpot split by two winners in August 2006. Each ticket, purchased in Minnesota and Wisconsin, was worth $75.5 million annuity. However, both winners chose the cash option, splitting $78 million.
The largest single ticket jackpot in Minnesota Lottery history was a $50.3 million Powerball prize claimed by a couple from Bagley in March 2008.
Has anyone ever cheated to win the Minnesota lottery?
There have been a couple notable cases of lottery fraud or cheating attempts in Minnesota:
- In 1992, an Iowa man named Larry Dawson claimed a $18,000 Minnesota lottery prize using a stolen ticket.
- In 1994, a group used inside connections to attempt to buy winning tickets and claim prizes. Five were convicted in this scam.
- In 2005, a St. Paul police offer tried to claim a $500,000 prize with a stolen scratch-off ticket but was caught.
While occasional cheating attempts occur, the Minnesota Lottery has security processes to protect game integrity. Instances of fraud are rare.
What is the luckiest Minnesota lottery game?
The luckiest Minnesota lottery game in terms of odds of winning is the Daily 3 game. This daily number drawing game offers several ways to win prizes with odds ranging from 1 in 167 to 1 in 1,000 depending on the type of play.
Other games considered luckier compared to massive jackpot games like Powerball and Mega Millions include:
- Gopher 5 – Top prize odds of 1 in 1.5 million
- Northstar Cash – Top prize odds of 1 in 2.7 million
- Progressive Print Games – Special scratch games with escalating jackpots. Overall odds of any win are around 1 in 3.
Can you remain anonymous after winning the Minnesota lottery?
Yes, lottery winners can remain anonymous in Minnesota. A bill passed in 2020 provides anonymity for lottery winners if requested. Winners of $10,000 or more can have their identity shielded from the public.
Prior to this bill, all names and hometowns of major Minnesota lottery winners were released publicly.
Can Minnesota lottery winners avoid taxes?
No, Minnesota lottery winnings are subject to both state and federal taxes like regular income. While winners have the choice between a lump sum or annuity payout, taxes must be paid either way.
For lump sums, 24% is withheld for federal taxes and a further 9.85% for state taxes. Annuity payments have tax withholding rates of 25% federal and 8% state. American citizens cannot avoid these taxes by leaving the country after winning.
There are certain legal financial strategies winners can use to invest or donate portions of the prize to reduce tax liability. But there is no way for an American to fully avoid taxes on lottery winnings.
Has the Minnesota lottery ever had a scandal?
There have been a couple notable controversies surrounding the Minnesota Lottery over the years:
- In 1990, a Star Tribune investigation found evidence that organized crime figures may have profited from lottery retailers they controlled.
- In 1995, a scandal erupted around executive directors of the lottery taking lavish trips paid for by lottery vendors. This led to several resignations.
- In 2005, reports showed the lottery director at the time, George Andersen, charging the lottery for excessive expenses on a blowout holiday party and personal purchases. He was forced out.
- In 2015, there were calls for investigations into potentially inflated and misleading projections of lottery revenue being given to lawmakers.
Despite periodic controversies, the Minnesota lottery has maintained general integrity and public trust over its 33 year history.
What is the best strategy for winning the Minnesota lottery?
There is no guaranteed strategy to win the lottery since drawings are random. However, experts recommend a few tips to maximize your odds:
- Buy more tickets – The more number combinations you have, the better your chances.
- Join lottery pools or syndicates to buy more tickets at reduced cost.
- Avoid choosing lottery numbers that form patterns or consecutive numbers. Mix it up.
- For jackpot games, buy tickets when the prizes are biggest to have a chance at life-changing winnings.
- Consider second-tier prizes which offer better odds. The jackpot is extremely unlikely.
- Use lottery number generator apps to get random sets of numbers.
- Use quick pick to get numbers selected randomly rather than picking your own.
- Play unpopular games with better odds and fewer players.
While these tips can help, a big factor is simply luck and random chance. For games like Powerball, even maximizing odds results in just a 1 in 11 million chance of hitting the jackpot.
Where does Minnesota lottery revenue rank nationally?
| State | FY 2021 Lottery Revenue |
|---|---|
| New York | $10.17 billion |
| Massachusetts | $5.83 billion |
| Pennsylvania | $5.22 billion |
| California | $5.04 billion |
| Minnesota | $175 million |
| Wisconsin | $165 million |
| Michigan | $1.42 billion |
| Kentucky | $1.28 billion |
| Oregon | $785 million |
| Iowa | $393 million |
In Fiscal Year 2021, Minnesota ranked #27 in terms of lottery revenue among the 45 states with lotteries, as well as Washington, D.C. Minnesota accounted for about 0.5% of total U.S. lottery revenue. Top states like New York and Massachusetts brought in over $5 billion in annual lottery revenue.
Conclusion
In summary, Minnesota has had its own lottery since 1988 run by the Minnesota State Lottery. Revenue from games like Powerball and scratch-offs goes towards environmental programs and projects as mandated by a constitutional amendment. Players must be 18 and purchase tickets in-state. While providing millions in funding, Minnesota’s lottery revenue is lower than most states. But for lottery fans, Minnesota offers a wide variety of lottery games with proceeds benefiting worthy state causes.