Lottery Delivers Record Sales Year as Minnesotans continue to say “I’MN”
SEPT 23, 2020 – For the third year in a row, the Minnesota Lottery has ended the fiscal year with record sales. Proceeds generated to protect Minnesota’s environment and support state services, prizes paid to players, and commissions paid to the Lottery’s 3,000+ retailer partners located across Minnesota also set records.
Fiscal Year 2020 Records:
- Sales: $668.6 million
- Return to State: $156 million. This brings the inception to date total to $3.3 billion
- Prizes paid to players: $423.6 million
- Retailer commissions and incentives: $44.8 million
“All Minnesotans benefit from Lottery proceeds, said Lottery Executive Director Adam Prock. “From state services that protect and support Minnesotans to environmental projects that protect our environment and give more Minnesotans the opportunity to connect with nature, Lottery proceeds help make Minnesota an even better place to live.”
With the help of lottery proceeds, air and water quality has been improved; prairies, lakes, rivers, forests, and wetlands are being protected from invasive plant and pest species; scientists are discovering new ways to solve environmental puzzles; native species, including pollinators, are being protected so they can thrive. Lottery dollars also help fund important state programs including education, public safety, and health & human services by way of the General Fund.
Playing Our Part for Minnesota since 1990
The Lottery has generated approximately $3.3 billion for programs that positively impact the lives of Minnesotans. More than $1.4 billion has helped preserve, restore and protect Minnesota’s environment through the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, Game and Fish Fund and the Natural Resources Fund. Another $1.9 billion has helped fund state programs through the General Fund, including education, public safety and health and human services.
ROSEVILLE, Minn. (Jan. 28, 2020) – A group of 28, who work together in Coon Rapids and call their lottery pool “Team APG,” claimed a $1 million Powerball prize this afternoon. “If we had one more number, our group name would be ‘Retired,’” quipped one member.
“I had $1 million sitting on my desk since Saturday!” said Dustin Uran of Minneapolis, who purchases the tickets.
Uran learned that the ticket was a big winner when he scanned it at a lottery retailer on Monday morning. “I scanned it and it said, ‘Winner. Contact lottery office.’ So, I scanned it again and I thought, ‘That’s different.’ I knew it must be $50,000 or $1 million—or a glitch.”
After returning to the office, Uran looked up the Jan. 25 winning numbers on the Minnesota Lottery website and saw that one of their tickets had matched the first five numbers drawn to win $1 million. Uran emailed the pool members: “Apparently nobody checks the tickets I send. Check the tickets.” “I always email copies of the tickets before the drawing for transparency,” he explained.
With the estimated Powerball jackpot at $394 million for Wednesday’s drawing and the group’s newly earned reputation for being lucky, it’s no surprise that additional coworkers want to join the Team APG lottery pool.
Speedway, located at 11872 Round Lake Blvd. N.W. in Coon Rapids, sold the $1 million winning ticket. Speedway earns a $5,000 bonus for selling the $1 million winning ticket.
The Jan. 25 winning Powerball numbers were 2-9-17-36-67 and the Powerball number was 18.