NEWS RELEASES

LOTTERY TICKETS ARE NOT APPROPRIATE GIFTS FOR MINORS

DEC. 1, 2021, ROSEVILLE, MN – The Minnesota Lottery and the Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling (MNAPG) announced today they are continuing their annual participation in an international responsible gambling campaign to raise awareness about the risks of underage lottery play during the holiday season. Both organizations will promote the importance of responsible gambling through various media channels, joining a growing effort to raise awareness about this issue around Minnesota, the United States and North America.

December is a time when many cultures share in gift giving, and some may consider giving scratch tickets to young people as gifts. “A scratch-off ticket may provide momentary excitement, but underage recipients don’t have the cognitive development to discern the potential risks of gambling,” says Susan Sheridan Tucker, MNAPG executive director. “This is why tickets sales are limited to adults.” When a trusted adult provides a ticket to a minor, it normalizes the activity as an acceptable practice.

In the most recent Minnesota Student Survey (2019) .05 percent of students indicated possible disordered gambling and another 2 percent indicated having problems with their gambling. This may seem like a small number, but it translates into 10,000 students. We know that a young person’s gambling starts as early as 10 years old. 30 percent surveyed indicated they had gambled in the last year and 7 percent said they gambled frequently (at least once a week or more). Youth gambling is particularly concerning because researchers have established a link between the age at which a person first gambles and the occurrence of excessive or problem gambling later in life. Studies have also shown that many adolescents gamble at least occasionally, and that lottery products, particularly scratch tickets, often serve as an introduction to gambling activities for youth.[1]

“While we think lottery tickets make for fun gifts for adults, they are not appropriate as a gift for minors,” says Adam Prock, executive director of the Minnesota Lottery. “The commitment of the Minnesota Lottery and so many other lotteries around the country demonstrates our interest in ensuring that lottery participation is both fun and safe.” Both Tucker and Prock feel that responsible gambling is a positive approach to minimizing gambling-related harm and maximizing public benefit.

About Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling

Minnesota Alliance on Problem is a nonprofit, gambling-neutral organization dedicated to improving the lives of Minnesotans affected by problem gambling. A 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, MNAPG is funded by membership fees, financial and in-kind donations, and state and private grants. MNAPG serves as Minnesota’s affiliate to the National Council on Problem Gambling.

About Minnesota State Lottery

The Minnesota Lottery raises money for programs that positively impact the lives of Minnesotans. It offers uniquely Minnesotan games of chance that are held to the highest standard of integrity and security. Since 1990, the Minnesota Lottery has returned more than $3.5 billion to programs that benefit all Minnesotans, including the state’s most precious natural resources, education, health care and more.

If someone you know needs help with a gambling problem, call (800) 333-HOPE. Treatment is available free of charge for qualifying individuals throughout Minnesota.

[1] Gambling-Related Attitudes and Behaviors in Adolescents Having Received Instant (Scratch) Lottery Tickets as Gifts

Priya V. Kundu, D.O. a, Corey E. Pilver, Ph.D. b, Rani A. Desai, Ph.D., M.P.H. c,d, Marvin A. Steinberg, Ph.D. e, Loreen Rugle, Ph.D. f, Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin, Ph.D. c,g, and Marc N. Potenza, M.D., Ph.D. c,f,g,h,* Journal of Adolescent Health 52 (2013) 456e464

Lottery debuts 12 fun facts of fiscal year 21 to celebrate the Minnesota State Fair

AUG. 31, 2021, ROSEVILLE, MN – The Minnesota Lottery is excited to debut 12 fun facts from fiscal year 21 which began July 1, 2020 and ended June 30, 2021 to help celebrate the 12 days of fun during The Great Minnesota Get-Together:

1. Minnesota Lottery sales set a record of $803.6 million in fiscal year 21, surpassing the previous fiscal year’s record by $135.1 million. This is the fourth year in a row of record sales.
2. Minnesotans won a record $518.9 million in prizes.
3. Our retail partners paid, on average, more than 104,000 winning tickets every day.
4. Minnesota Lottery delivered a big win for Minnesotans with a record return of $188.8 million to the State. Lottery dollars support Minnesota’s General Fund, protect and preserve Minnesota’s environment, and fund important work to help prevent and treat problem gambling. Some lottery beneficiaries at the Fair, including the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), where lottery dollars help fund efforts to maintain and improve parks and trails across the state.
5. Since 1990, the Minnesota Lottery has generated more than $3.4 billion for Minnesota, improving the lives of Minnesotans throughout all 87 counties.
6. The approximately 3,000 lottery retail partners from Aitkin to Zumbrota earned a record $53.7 million in commissions and incentives.
7. With more than 4.5 million tickets sold, Ju$t A Buck was the most popular scratch game of fiscal year 21 among Minnesota players.
8. The most popular lotto game of fiscal year 21? Powerball. More Minnesotans said I’MN to Powerball than any other game. Now with three Powerball drawings per week (hello, Monday drawings!) Minnesota players have another chance to get in on the fun.
9. Easiest jackpot game to win? Minnesota’s own Northstar Cash, which produced 51 jackpot winners—almost 1 every week.
10. Minnesota Millionaire Raffle continued to offer the lottery’s best odds to win $1 million and produced two $1 million winners. Spoiler alert: Sales for this year’s Raffle begin Oct. 26.
11. Luckiest retailers by region in (biggest prize sold in each region):
    1. Northwest: Coborn’s #2030 in Park Rapids sold a $500,000 winning Payday scratch ticket
    2. Northeast: Lucky Seven 1 Stop in Swan River sold a $630,373 winning Gopher 5 ticket
    3. Southwest: Fraternal Order of Eagles #2334 in Willmar sold a $212,146 winning Print-N-Play ticket
    4. Southeast: Casey’s General Store #3832 in Janesville sold a $503,343 winning Gopher 5 ticket
    5. Twin Cities: Wash-N-Fill Express of New Brighton sold a $1.8 million winning Gopher 5 ticket
12. This is the Minnesota Lottery’s 13^th year at the Minnesota State Fair. We chose a different offering at the Fair this year in order to comply with safety guidance surrounding COVID-19. The lottery is safely connecting with Minnesotans 18+ by handing out FREE entry slips for a drawing to win $300 plus the chance to win $1 million in the Powerball First Millionaire of the Year drawing.

Media availability: Minnesota Lottery Executive Director Adam Prock will be available for media interviews at the lottery booth at the Minnesota State Fair this week. Please contact Emily Frost to schedule an interview.

Contact:

Emily Frost, Minnesota Lottery Public Affairs
emily.frost@mnlottery.com
651-635-8224

Editor’s note: Fiscal year 2021 numbers are unaudited.

State Bee is the star of Bee Lucky Scratch Ticket

April 6, 2021 — Pollinators like the rusty patched bumble bee help support Minnesota’s environment and economy. That’s why the Minnesota Lottery has created a very special scratch ticket with help from our friends at the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board.

Bee Lucky scratch tickets—starring Minnesota’s state bee, the rusty patched bumble bee—land in retailers across Minnesota on April 6. Each ticket is $2. Players have a chance to win up to $10,000 instantly.

In addition to featuring one of Minnesota’s most buzz-worthy pollinators, Bee Lucky scratch tickets include a special “Bee Informed” box. Players scratch the Bee Informed box to reveal facts about Minnesota’s pollinators.

“The Environmental Quality Board is excited to collaborate with the Minnesota Lottery to produce the Bee Lucky scratch ticket,” said Katie Pratt, EQB Executive Director. "This ticket will raise awareness about Minnesota’s state bee—the endangered rusty patched bumble bee—and generate lottery proceeds that support environmental projects including improving pollinator habitat. While Minnesota is making progress on pollinator protection, it will take all of us to protect our state bee and other imperiled pollinators.”

The rusty patched bumble bee became Minnesota’s state bee in 2019. The rusty patched bumble bee has been listed as federally endangered since 2017.

“The Minnesota Lottery is happy that we can help play our part to raise awareness about Minnesota’s native pollinators,” said Minnesota Lottery Executive Director Adam Prock. “We are grateful for the work that The Environmental Quality Board and so many others have done for Minnesota’s environment.”

Playing Our Part for MN since 1990

The Lottery has generated more than $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. Approximately $1.9 billion has helped fund state programs through the General Fund, including education, public safety and health and human services.