Public referendums:
November 8, 1988 - The Lottery constitutional amendment permitting a state lottery; passed 57%.
November 8, 1988 - To establish a Minnesota Environment/Natural Resources Trust Fund for the Environment/Natural Resources and wildlife purposes; passed 77%.
November 6, 1990 - Dedicated 40% of the state lottery proceeds to the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund until the year 2001; passed 75%.
November 3, 1998 - To extend the Natural Resources Trust Fund to the year 2025; passed 77%.

Clint Harris became Minnesota's second lottery director on October 11, 2004 following his appointment by Governor Tim Pawlenty.
Prior to moving to Minnesota, Harris had been director of the South Dakota Lottery. Formally appointed to that position in May, 2003, he had served as acting executive director for the previous three years. He joined the South Dakota Lottery in 1993 as research analyst and was named director of administration in 1995.
Harris currently serves as chair of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) Hot Lotto Game group, and NASPL Secretary.

Download the 2009 Annual report for the Minnesota Lottery CLICK HERE

Lottery Unveils Vikings Scratch-Off Game
ST. PAUL, Minneapolis (July 19, 2010) – The Minnesota State Lottery on Monday introduced a new Minnesota Vikings scratch-off lottery game.......Subscribers

Governor Appoints Three New Members To Gambling Control Board
SAINT PAUL, Minnesota (July 15, 2010) - Governor Tim Pawlenty today (Wednesday, July 14) announced the appointment of Geno Fragnito, Susan McCarville and Gary Sigfrinius, to the Gambling Control Board....Subscribers

Vikings Scratch-Off Ready To Be Unveiled
MINNESOTA, USA (July 17, 2010) - The Vikings and Minnesota State Lottery are pairing up to unveil a scratch-off game with a Vikings theme.........Subscribers

Pollard Banknote Awarded Primary Instant Ticket Contract With The Minnesota State Lottery
YPSILANTI, Michigan (May 22, 2010) -Following a recent competitive procurement, Pollard Banknote has been named the primary supplier of instant lottery tickets and related services to the Minnesota State Lottery....................Subscribers

House Division Approves Revenues From A Sports-Themed Lottery Game to Help Fund New Football Stadium
ST PAUL, MINNESOTA (May 6, 2010) - Tax increases are out and bonding is in as a funding source for potential new football stadium to house the Minnesota Vikings.............Subscribers

Minnesota Lawmakers Propose Sports-Themed Scratch-Off Game to Help Finance New Stadium to Replace Metrodome
MINNESOTA, USA (May 3, 2010) -- Minnesota lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill to replace the Metrodome with a $791 million multipurpose stadium..................Subscribers

Minneapolis-Based Agency Olson Awarded Lottery’s Advertising Account
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (April 5, 2010) - The Minnesota State Lottery chose Minneapolis-based advertising agency Olson to provide advertising services to the Lottery for the next three years. The contract was effective on April 1, 2010 and will continue through March 31, 2013, with three one-year extensions available. Olson was the unanimous choice of a six-member internal selection committee........................Subscribers

Minnesota Set a New Record in Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, with Lottery Sales of $481.2 Million
MELROSE, Minnesota (March 5, 2010) – The Fiscal Year 2009 Annual Report was recently released by the Minnesota State Lottery. The newspaper said Lottery sales in Minnesota set a new record in Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, with sales of $481.2 million........................Subscribers

Minnesota State Lottery Picks Minneapolis Ad Firm Olson Over Colle + McVoy
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (March 3, 2010) – Minneapolis ad agency Olson has been picked as winner of the $7 million Minnesota State Lottery account – beating incumbent Minneapolis agency Colle + McVoy..................Subscribers

Gubernatorial Candidate Calls For Gambling Expansion
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (February 14, 2010) -- reports that a candidate for governor is calling for an expansion of gambling in the state..........................Subscribers

Governor Says New Lottery Game Could Pay For Stadium
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (February 3, 2010) - Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty floated some ideas Wednesday that could be used to "cobble together a package" to publicly finance a new Vikings stadium -- the first time he has done so...................Subscribers

State Lottery Sees Only Slight Sales Dip During Economic Downturn
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (January 21, 2010) -- Minnesota Public Radio reports that despite the troubled economy and rising unemployment, the state lottery had a pretty good year in 2009..............Subscribers

Colle+McVoy Scratch Game Campaign Makes Everyday Life More Fun
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (January 14, 2010) – Minnesota State Lottery scratch games provide welcome fun from the grind of the rat, er hamster, race, according to a new campaign by Colle+McVoy........................Subscribers

Lottery Sets Entry Ad Review Deadline
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (January 13, 2010) – Local media source reported today that marketing agencies had until Tuesday to make a pitch for the Minnesota State Lottery advertising account, which has been handled for the last five years by Minneapolis firm Colle + McVoy................Subscribers

Lottery Celebrates its 20th Anniversary in 2010
Offers special promotion where one lucky player could win $1 million!
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (January 8, 2010) - 2010 marks the Minnesota State Lottery’s 20th year of operation. To celebrate this milestone, the Lottery is offering a special second-chance promotion along with events held around the state to thank the millions of Minnesotans who have purchased Lottery tickets over the past 20 years.......................Subscribers

Minnesota Lottery Reports Wrong Winning Numbers
MINNESOTA (January 5, 2010) -- There was a glitch in the Minnesota State Lottery's system on Saturday night with the Daily-3 game......................Subscribers

Sold Out
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (December 23, 2009) - Minnesota Millionaire Raffle tickets sold out today at 2:55 p.m. — just 51 days after ticket sales began on Nov. 3. This is the earliest the tickets have sold out in the four years the game has been offered.....................Subscribers

Minnesota Millionaire Raffle Tickets Selling Fast
Approximately 40 Percent of Raffle Tickets Remain
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (December 15, 2009) -  Tickets for the Lottery’s most anticipated holiday game, the Minnesota Millionaire Raffle, are on sale now — but not for long. Minnesotans have until Dec. 31, or until all 500,000 Raffle tickets sell out (whichever comes first), to get in on the fun.....................Subscribers

Colle+McVoy Surprises Real People With Pop-Up Raffle
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (December 2, 2009) – A new campaign by Colle+McVoy for the Minnesota State Lottery (MSL) brings the real excitement of playing a raffle game to life....................Subscribers

The Minnesota Millionaire Raffle Game Is Back!
Still the best odds to win $1 million; New this year: Bonus Prizes
MINNESOTA, USA (November 3, 2009) - Tickets for this year’s Minnesota Millionaire Raffle are now on sale. Minnesota State Lottery players have until Dec. 31, or until all 500,000 Raffle tickets sell out, to have the chance to start 2010 with a $1 million win! The Raffle game has sold out early every time it has been offered...................Subscribers

Minnesota Lottery Sales Set Record in FY09
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (October 2, 2009) -- The Minnesota Lottery had a record year in FY2009, selling $481 million worth of lottery tickets at a time when lottery revenues in most other states decreased.....................Subscribers

Lottery Sales Set Record in Fiscal Year 2009
ROSEVILLE, Minnesota (August 20, 2009) -- For the second consecutive year, Minnesota State Lottery ticket sales set a new record. Sales reached $481.2 million in fiscal year 2009 (July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009), an increase of $19.7 million, or 4.3 percent, from 2008.................Subscribers

Minnesota State Lottery achieves NSI verification for XML Retail Accounting Report
ROSEVILLE, Minnesota (August 27, 2009) -- Effective August 17, 2009, the Minnesota State Lottery became the second NASPL member to achieve verification for the NASPL Standards Initiative.......................Subscribers

Minnesota Lottery Sales Hit Record
ROSEVILLE, Minnesota (August 20, 2009) – According to local media reports the Minnesota State Lottery says it's set a new record for ticket sales in a fiscal year...................Subscribers

Vikings Considering a Partnership With Minnesota State Lottery
ST PAUL, Minnesota (May 24, 2009) – Local news sources report the Vikings are among the NFL teams considering a partnership with their state lottery after league owners passed a resolution last week enabling teams to sign licensing deals with state-sponsored lotteries.......................Subscribers

State Lottery Continues Sting Operations
MINNESOTA, USA (April 9, 2009) -- Gas stations and retailers throughout the state received a letter from the Minnesota State Lottery, warning management and store clerks about new program meant to catch dishonest employees-- called the "Retailer Compliance Program"...................Subscribers

GTECH Signs Three-Year Extension With Minnesota State Lottery To Provide Additional Self-Service Products, Multimedia Technology
ROME (Italy), PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (US) (March 30, 2009) - GTECH Corporation announced that it has signed a three-year contract extension to continue providing online lottery technology, as well as additional self-service and multimedia products, for the Minnesota State Lottery.................Subscribers

Several Minnesota Store Clerks Caught-Out in Lottery Sting
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (March 28, 2009) -- Minnesota Lottery officials have been reported as saying a sting caught a handful of store clerks lying about whether a lottery ticket was a winner so they could collect the jackpot themselves.................Subscribers

Record Sales for Minnesota Lottery in 2008
Minnesota (February 25, 2009) -- The Minnesota State Lottery set a record high by reporting $462 million in fiscal year 2008..................Subscribers

Pollard Banknote Awarded Instant Ticket Extension With The Minnesota State Lottery
YPSILANTI, Michigan (January 29, 2009) -- Pollard Banknote has been awarded a one-year contract extension to supply instant lottery tickets and related services to the Minnesota State Lottery (“Minnesota Lottery”).............Subscribers

Minnesota Lottery Sales Defy Nation-Wide Trend
MINNESOTA, USA (December 30, 2008) -- "Most lotteries are down-- it's a tough economic climate," Minnesota State Lottery Marketing and Sales Director John Mellein is quoted as saying. Mellein also said economic hardship has lead to most states experiencing a sharp decline in lottery sales, but Minnesota's numbers are still up.....................Subscribers

Simulated Version of Hold-Em Scratch Game Available Online Free to Play. Prizes Awarded Daily
MINNESOTA, USA (December 29, 2008) -- Fans of the Lottery’s popular Minnesota Hold-Em Championship Poker scratch games will soon be able to play a simulated version of a Hold-Em game against computerized players for free!..............Subscribers

Lottery Sales Up As Economy Heads Down
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (December 10, 2008) – According to local media reports Minnesota Lottery sales are increasing despite a recession. The state lottery posted a 9 percent increase for its budget year ending in June and, as the economy worsened in recent months, its sales have been...................Subscribers

Lottery Campaign a Smash Hit
MINNESOTA, USA (December 1, 2008) – The Minneapolis ad agency Colle+McVoy has come up with a new campaign to promote the State Lottery – a series of ads in which those little ping pong-style balls with winning numbers are transformed into...............Subscribers

Gopher 5® Drawing Days to Change
MINNESOTA, USA (September 29, 2008) - For the first time in more than 17 years, the drawing days for Minnesota’s own Gopher 5 game are changing. Starting on Oct. 6, 2008, Gopher 5 will move to three drawings per week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday). There are no changes to odds or prizes................Subscribers

Minnesota Lottery Sales Hit All-Time High
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, USA (October 24, 2008) -- Minnesota State Lottery Director Clint Harris is reported by the local media as saying the state plans to launch eight or nine more scratch games in the near future, which could bring another record year in sales...............Subscribers

Lottery Sales Set Record in Fiscal Year 2008
MINNESOTA, USA (August 26, 2008) - Minnesota State Lottery ticket sales reached a record $461.5 million in fiscal year 2008, an increase of $38.9 million, or 9.2 percent, from 2007.................Subscribers

Minnesota State Lottery Director Elected As President of the Multi-State Lottery Association Board of Directors
ROSEVILLE, Minnesota (July 7, 2008) -- Minnesota State Lottery Director Clint Harris has been elected as President of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) Board of Directors, beginning July 1, 2008...................Subscribers

Minnesota State Lottery Hooks Up With Lund® Boats
MINNESOTA, USA (April 21, 2008) -- The Minnesota State Lottery, in collaboration with Minnesota-based Lund® Boats, introduces an innovative scratch game and second-chance drawing promotion just in time to kick off Minnesota’s fishing season..................Subscribers

Smoking Ban Cuts Receipts From Pull-Tabs, Bingo
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, USA (March 31, 2008) -- Enacting a statewide ban on smoking last year appears to have had a precipitous effect on charitable gambling revenues from pull-tabs and bingo...............Subscribers

Lottery Ticket Sales Drop in Minnesota in January
ROSEVILLE, Minnesota, USA (February 27, 2008) -- Sales of lottery tickets are down in Minnesota and the weaker economy is the apparent reason...............Subscribers

Time is Running Out, Less Than 20 Percent of Minnesota Millionaire Raffle Tickets Remain
MINNESOTA, USA (December 18, 2007) -- Minnesotans won’t want to miss their chance at the best odds of becoming a millionaire. With a 1 in 250,000 chance to win one of the two guaranteed $1 million Raffle prizes.................Subscribers

Minnesota Wins Big! Lottery Sales Generate Second Highest Profit for Beneficiaries Ever
MINNESOTA, USA (September 19, 2007) -- From July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, the Lottery has generated an estimated $112.4 million for Minnesota, the second highest ever. Lottery sales for fiscal year 2007 were ...........Read the full story at: Vol.40 No.13

GameTech Announces Minnesota Manufacturer License
RENO, Nevada, USA (September 19, 2007) -- GameTech International, Inc. ("GameTech" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: GMTC), a leading designer, developer and marketer of electronic bingo equipment and bingo systems, today announced that the Minnesota Gambling Control Board has granted a manufacturer license to the Company effective October 1st, 2007.........Read the full story at: Vol.40 No.13

Clint Harris Elected Chairman of Powerball® Game Group
Harris also Elected Vice President of MUSL Board
ROSEVILLE, Minnesota, USA (July 24, 2007) -- Clint Harris, Executive Director of the Minnesota State Lottery, has been elected chairman of the Powerball game group and vice-president of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) board of directors...........Subscribers

Lottery Awarded Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
ROSEVILLE, Minnesota, USA (May 16, 2007) -- For the seventh consecutive year, the Minnesota State Lottery has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the year ending June 30, 2006. This certificate is awarded by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA)........Subscribers

Lottery Celebrates Minnesota Twins™ Scratch Game at Mall of America®
MINNESOTA, USA (April 11, 2007) -- On April 14, the Rotunda at the Mall of America will be transformed into a baseball field to celebrate the Minnesota State Lottery’s Minnesota Twins™ Scratch Game......Read the full story at: Vol.39 No.4