Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed the fiscal year 2025 state budget that includes language legalizing online lottery sales for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Revenue from online lottery sales will support a grant program for early childhood education and care.

“We thank Governor Healey for her support of online Lottery and approving it in the final FY25 budget. This will allow the Lottery to keep pace with its competition and reach newer audiences. We are prepared to implement a safe and reliable iLottery that will produce significant resources for critical childcare services, which are so desperately needed across the state. Thank you to Speaker Ron Mariano, President Karen Spilka, and the Joint Ways and Means Committee for prioritizing this important policy change. And thank you to the legislators who have championed this issue. We are excited to get to work,” said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission.

“Our team is excited to implement an online Lottery. We are ready and prepared to offer our players a modern lottery experience in a safe and accessible environment. At the same time, the Lottery is unwavering in its commitment to our dedicated retail partners who have helped us become the most successful lottery in the country,” said Mark William Bracken, Executive Director of the Mass Lottery.

The Lottery will be conducting a Request for Response to procure services for the operation of an online Lottery. Lottery officials anticipate launching its online platform in approximately 16 months. The legislation requires customers to be at least 21 years old to participate. The age requirement for retail Lottery sales remains 18.

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Pollard Banknote Limited announced an extension to its Instant Ticket Printing Services Agreement with the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation (ILC). The original contract term began on December 30, 2013, and under this extension Pollard Banknote will continue to provide instant tickets, game design, and related services through December 31, 2028, with an option to renew for an additional five years.

The contract extends the successful and collaborative partnership Pollard Banknote and ILC have established over the past 35 years. As a coordinating agent representing all five Canadian lottery organizations, ILC has worked with Pollard Banknote throughout the years to leverage a variety of print innovations and regionally-specific strategies to deliver top-selling national games to players, which have consistently been significant drivers of overall sales for Canadian lotteries. Two recent examples are ILC’s latest launch of its $50, $100, $150 game, featuring the eye-catching hues of neon ink, and the Mystery Multiplier ticket with Pollard Banknote’s Flip Scratch innovation that features pop-up windows with additional scratch-off areas. Most recently, Pollard Banknote collaborated with ILC to expand its presence into the digital lottery landscape with the latest iteration of its Jackpot family of games—a key number match series of tickets which includes a 2nd chance contest where players can play an online slots-style game to earn bonus entries with each code they enter.

“We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with Pollard Banknote. Their expertise and experience in the industry has allowed us to bring exciting new concepts and instant games to the Canadian market. The contract extension will allow us to continue to deliver innovative and creative games that players love and that will generate revenue for the vital programs the lotteries support throughout Canada and their respective provinces,” said Sarah Price, Director of National Games, ILC.

“Pollard Banknote is thrilled to have the opportunity to extend our partnership with the ILC. We are excited to continue providing innovative products that stand out at retail and extend the play experience into the digital landscape, with the ultimate goal of maximizing revenue for good causes across Canada,” said Brad Thompson, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Pollard Banknote.

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During a community celebration at The Village in Meridian, the Idaho Lottery commemorated their record-breaking 35th Anniversary by returning the single largest dividend in their history to the people of Idaho. The Idaho Lottery Commission presented Governor Brad Little with an $84,000,000 dividend check, a 2.4% increase over last year’s dividend.

“In 1988, Idahoans voted at the ballot box and approved establishing a state lottery to benefit public education. The Lottery has been a success for players, and it has created economic opportunity for Idaho businesses. Most importantly, the Lottery team has contributed nearly $1.3 billion for the benefit of Idaho public schools and buildings,” Governor Brad Little said.

Historically, Idaho Lottery dividends have been used by school districts for building maintenance, repairs, and operational projects. A change in statute during the 2024 Legislative session changes how Lottery dividends are utilized by the State’s school districts.

“Idahoans who play the fun and entertaining games from the Idaho Lottery help build communities in Idaho. Today we are in the West Ada School District where last year’s dividends are being used by local builders and tradesmen to repair roofs, replace HVAC systems, and make school facilities more accessible. Today’s Idaho Lottery dividends will benefit future public school district facilities and provide property tax relief by paying down voter-approved bonds and levies,” said Jeff Anderson, Idaho Lottery Director.

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Governor Little and Idaho Lottery Commission Chairman, Craig Corbett, awarded the largest single check ever from the Idaho Lottery to support public education in the Gem State. On behalf of Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction, Debbie Critchfield, the Department of Education’s Chief Financial Officer, Gideon Tolman, accepted a check for $52,500,000.

“The 35th anniversary of the Idaho Lottery is the perfect time to celebrate all the good it has done for Idaho’s public schools. For years, the lottery has helped support K-12 education and once again, on behalf of Idaho schools, I want to thank Idahoans for these additional resources that will continue to benefit public school operations in our state,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction, Debbie Critchfield.

Dale Reynolds, Chairman of the Permanent Building Fund Advisory Council, accepted a check for $31,500,000 on behalf of the State’s Permanent Building Fund. Permanent Building Fund dollars support maintenance and capital projects for State-owned facilities and Idaho’s public college and university buildings.

“Over the past 35 years, the Lottery has proven its resourcefulness and partnership by contributing well over half-a-billion dollars for Idaho’s state-owned facilities. Lottery revenue each year enables us to preserve our historical facilities, provide safe work environments for the Gem State’s employees, and improve the quality of Idaho’s collegiate campuses,” said Reynolds.

This year’s dividend comes after Idaho Lottery sales exceeded the $400 million threshold for the second consecutive year.

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“This is all made possible with funds from the Idaho Lottery, not tax dollars,” added Anderson.

In addition to the dividend record, the Idaho Lottery also awarded a record amount to their network of over 1200 brick and mortar retail locations who earned $24.7 million in commissions.