Did you know that the Maryland Lottery has contributed over $18.6 billion to the state since 1973? This impressive figure highlights the significant impact the lottery has had on Maryland's economy and public services. From its humble beginnings with just 94 employees and 3,800 retailers, the Maryland Lottery has grown into a vital part of the state's revenue system. Players have won more than $31.5 billion in prizes, enjoying a wide variety of games like Pick 3, Pick 4, Mega Millions, and Powerball. With a strong commitment to responsible gaming and community support, the Maryland Lottery continues to be a cornerstone of entertainment and funding for essential state programs.
Key Takeaways:
- Maryland Lottery has been a major revenue contributor for the state, generating over $18.6 billion since its inception in 1973. Players have won more than $31.5 billion in prizes, making it a popular entertainment choice.
- The Maryland Lottery offers a diverse range of games, including multijurisdictional lotteries like Powerball, with jackpots starting at $20 million. It also promotes responsible gaming and allocates its revenues to support various government programs.
The Birth of the Maryland Lottery
The Maryland Lottery has been a staple of entertainment and revenue generation for the state since its inception. Let's dive into some fascinating facts about its history and operations.
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Inception: The Maryland Lottery began on May 15, 1973, with James P. Slicher as its first director. It started with 94 employees and 3,800 licensed selling retailers.
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Revenue Contribution: Since its inception, the Maryland Lottery has contributed more than $18.6 billion in revenue to the state.
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Prize Distribution: Lottery players have won more than $31.5 billion in prizes.
Diverse Game Offerings
The Maryland Lottery offers a variety of games to keep players engaged and excited. Here are some key details about the different types of games available.
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Games Offered: The Maryland Lottery offers a diverse range of games, including Pick 3, Pick 4, Mega Millions, Powerball, Cash4Life, and various instant games.
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Drawing Frequency: The Lottery holds twice-daily drawings for Pick 3 and Pick 4 games, with winners receiving prizes ranging from $25 to $500 for Pick 3 and $25 to $5,000 for Pick 4.
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Multijurisdictional Lotteries: Maryland participates in multijurisdictional lotteries like Powerball, which is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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Powerball Participation: Powerball drawings are held Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday nights in Tallahassee, Florida, with jackpots starting at $20 million.
Instant and Scratch-Off Games
Instant games and scratch-offs are a big hit among players. Here's what you need to know about these quick-win options.
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Fast Play Instant Games: Introduced in 2020, Fast Play instant games are printed on-demand at the time of purchase by Lottery terminals and self-service vending machines. Prices range from $1 to $20, with some games offering progressive jackpot prizes.
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Scratch-Off Games: The Lottery offers more than 50 pre-printed scratch-off games at prices ranging from $1 to $30. Each scratch-off game launch includes thousands of winning tickets, with prizes of varying amounts, including top prizes as high as $2 million.
Prize Redemption and Claims
Winning is exciting, but knowing how to claim your prize is crucial. Here are the details on prize redemption.
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Prize Redemption: All Maryland Lottery retailers are authorized to redeem winning tickets up to $600. Winning tickets up to $5,000 can be redeemed at Expanded Cashing Authority Program (XCAP) retail locations. Maryland’s six licensed casinos are authorized to redeem winning Lottery tickets valued up to $25,000. Prizes larger than $25,000 must be claimed at the Lottery’s Claims Center in Baltimore.
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Claims Center: The Claims Center in Baltimore is open by appointment only and handles all claims for prizes over $25,000. It takes at least 15 business days for processing any winning tickets with a value of more than $25,000.
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Casino Redemption: Winning tickets up to and including $25,000 can be redeemed at the cashiers’ windows at Maryland’s casinos. A list of casino locations is available on the How To Claim page.
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Mail Claiming: Prizes of any value can be claimed by mail. Instructions for claiming by mail and a copy of the claim form can be found on the How To Claim page.
Commitment to Responsible Gaming
The Maryland Lottery takes responsible gaming seriously. Here’s how they promote safe play.
- Responsible Gaming: The Maryland Lottery is strongly committed to promoting responsible play. While Lottery games are a form of entertainment, the agency encourages everyone to play within their means. Information and assistance are available for those who have difficulty playing responsibly.
Revenue Allocation and State Benefits
The revenue generated by the Maryland Lottery supports various state programs. Here’s how the funds are distributed.
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Revenue Allocation: Approximately 60% of the Lottery's revenues go back to players in the form of prize money. About 7% goes to retailer commissions, and 3% to operational expenses. The remaining 25% of revenues are deposited into the State General Fund to support various government programs, including education, public health, public safety, and the environment.
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State Lottery Fund: Revenues from the Lottery are credited to the State Lottery Fund (Code State Government Article, secs. 9-118 through 9-120). Monies in the State Lottery Fund are deposited into the Maryland Stadium Facilities Fund, the Maryland Veterans Trust Fund, and the Baltimore City Public School Construction Financing Fund. The remaining monies are deposited into the State General Fund.
Leadership and Oversight
The Maryland Lottery operates under strict oversight and leadership. Here’s a look at its governance.
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Director Appointment: The Director of the State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency is appointed by the Governor with Senate advice and consent (Code State Government Article, sec. 9-106).
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Commission Oversight: The Director may enter into agreements to operate multijurisdictional lotteries with any other political entity outside the State or outside the United States, or with a private licensee of a state or other nation, subject to approval by the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission and the Legislative Policy Committee of the General Assembly (Chapter 449, Acts of 2002; Code State Government Article, sec. 9-111).
Historical Milestones
The Maryland Lottery has achieved several significant milestones over the years. Here are some highlights.
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Historical Milestones: The Maryland Lottery has seen several significant milestones, including the introduction of Powerball in January 2010 and the launch of Fast Play instant games in February 2020.
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$2 Million Scratch-Off Launch: On February 27, 2017, the Lottery launched its first $30 scratch-off ticket, offering a $2 million top prize.
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Table Games at Casinos: On December 29, 2017, Ocean Downs Casino began offering table games, giving all six casinos in the state both table games and slot machines.
Technological Advancements
The Maryland Lottery has embraced technology to improve its operations and player experience. Here’s how.
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Central Monitoring System: On April 30, 2018, the Lottery’s new central monitoring and control system went live under a contract with Scientific Games. This system included new Lottery terminals at more than 4,000 locations across the state, new back-office software, a new online system for Lottery retailer applications, and created the capability for a broad expansion of self-service Lottery vending machines.
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Claims Partnerships with Casinos: Concurrent with the new central monitoring control system, the Lottery authorized MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill and Live Casino in Hanover to redeem winning Lottery tickets valued up to $25,000. By the end of FY2020, all six of Maryland’s casinos had been given this same authorization.
Fantasy Sports and Responsible Gaming Certification
The Maryland Lottery has expanded its scope and earned recognition for its responsible gaming efforts.
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Fantasy Sports Regulation: On October 1, 2018, regulation of online fantasy competitions was transferred from the Comptroller to the Agency.
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Responsible Gaming Certification: On December 21, 2018, the Lottery earned Level 3 status from the World Lottery Association, an international organization that offers a four-level certification program in responsible gambling. Level 4 certification followed in the summer of 2022.
Record-Breaking Wins and Promotions
The Maryland Lottery has seen some record-breaking wins and innovative promotions. Here are some notable examples.
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$731.1 Million Powerball Win: On January 20, 2021, Coney Market in Lonaconing (Allegany County) sold a jackpot-winning Powerball ticket worth an annuity value of $731.1 million, by far the largest prize in the Maryland Lottery’s history, as well as the fourth-largest jackpot in Powerball history and sixth-largest in U.S. lottery history.
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COVID-19 “Play Safe” Promotion: In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Agency began a “Play Safe” advertising campaign designed to provide advice on how to play Lottery games safely during the pandemic and responsibly as a general practice. The Lottery also extended the claiming deadlines for winning tickets that reached their expiration dates during the pandemic, with a grace period that ended on June 30, 2021.
Employee Recognition and Retailer Network
The Maryland Lottery values its employees and has a vast network of retailers. Here’s how they support both.
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Employee Recognition: As the agency transitioned from a COVID-19 footing back to a normal in-person working environment in 2021, new Director John Martin took the opportunity to overhaul the Agency-wide monthly employee recognition awards. The result was the CORE Per-4-mer program, which recognizes staff members who go above and beyond their assigned duties to advance the MLGCA priorities.
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Retailer Locator: There are more than 4,400 Lottery retailers across the state in venues of all types and sizes, including convenience stores, gas stations, restaurants, bars, bowling alleys, and grocery stores. Check the Retailer Locator to find a location in your area.
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ADA-Compliant Retailers: A list of ADA-compliant retailers is available on the Maryland Lottery’s website, ensuring that all players have equal access to Lottery games.
Accessing Winning Numbers and Game Information
Staying updated on winning numbers and game rules is easy with the Maryland Lottery. Here’s how you can access this information.
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Winning Numbers Availability: Drawing results are available at www.mdlottery.com, the Maryland Lottery’s mobile phone app, and the winning numbers phone line (410) 230-8830.
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Game Descriptions: Descriptions and rules for all Maryland Lottery games are available in the Games section of mdlottery.com.
Customer Service and Legal Information
The Maryland Lottery is committed to providing excellent customer service and transparency. Here’s what you need to know.
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Customer Service Promise: The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency promises to provide services in a friendly, courteous, timely, responsive, accurate, consistent, accessible, and convenient manner. They aim to advance a culture of honesty, clarity, and trust.
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Customer Experience Survey: The agency encourages feedback through a three-question customer experience survey, aiming to improve services based on player experiences.
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Legal Information: Detailed legal information about the Maryland Lottery’s products and services, including terms and conditions applicable to use of the site and its services, is available on the agency’s website.
Celebrating 50 Years
In 2023, the Maryland Lottery celebrated its 50th anniversary with various events and retrospectives. Here’s a look at the celebrations.
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50th Anniversary Celebrations: In 2023, the Maryland Lottery celebrated its 50th anniversary with various events and retrospectives, highlighting its growth and contributions to the state.
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Historical Photos: The Maryland Lottery has a collection of historical photos showcasing its evolution over the years, available on their website.
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Thank You for Playing: The agency has published a "Thanks for Playing: A Lottery Retrospective" section on its website, celebrating its history and achievements.
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Anniversary Cash Bash Finale: The 50th Anniversary Cash Bash Finale was a significant event where former Maryland Lottery executives gathered to share stories about how the organization has grown to support good causes in Maryland.
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Perspectives on Growth: The 50th Anniversary Perspectives section features insights from former executives on the Maryland Lottery’s growth and its impact on the state’s good causes.
Maryland Lottery's Impact and Legacy
The Maryland Lottery has been a game-changer since 1973. With over $18.6 billion contributed to state programs and $31.5 billion in prizes awarded, its impact is undeniable. Offering a variety of games like Pick 3, Pick 4, Mega Millions, and Powerball, it keeps players engaged and hopeful. The introduction of Fast Play instant games and high-stakes scratch-offs adds to the excitement.
Revenue from the Lottery supports education, public health, safety, and the environment. The State Lottery Fund ensures these contributions make a difference. The Lottery's commitment to responsible gaming and player support is commendable, earning it international recognition.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023, the Maryland Lottery continues to evolve and grow. Its legacy of entertainment, revenue generation, and community support remains strong, making it a vital part of Maryland's fabric.
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