40 Years of Doing Good Things
Back in the ’80s, it was all about the economy. Oregon voters approved the creation of the Oregon Lottery to help fund projects to grow and strengthen Oregon’s economic outlook.
Since then, voters have extended lottery proceeds to several additional programs that make a difference in Oregon including education, veteran services, state parks and more. Watch the video to learn how and why!
About Our Programs
So Many Winners
From a few dollars on a Scratch-it to a jaw-dropping $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot just last year, the wins keep coming for Oregon Lottery players. Every day, all across the state, players just like you win prizes big and small. Regardless of the size of the win, we celebrate them all!
Today, 92.5 cents of every dollar the Lottery takes in goes right back to players in the form of prizes. Retailer commissions, support for state programs, and operating expenses are all paid from the remainder. After all, it’s the dream of a win that keeps you playing, and your play helps Oregon thrive. It’s what we mean when we say, “Together, We Do Good Things.”
Retailers — Where Lottery Dreams Begin
Since the beginning in 1985, the Oregon Lottery has been a pillar of local economic support through retail partnerships. Markets, taverns, gas stations, service clubs, and more have all benefited from lottery commissions that strengthen their businesses, with beneficial effects rippling outward into their communities.
Today, more than 3,500 Oregon businesses sell Oregon lottery games. They include both national chains and mom-and-pop stores in every corner of the state. Some have even been with us from the beginning, helping us bring entertainment and winning dreams to players for forty years!
Progress Through the Years:
To help jump-start Oregon’s ailing economy and support economic development and job creation throughout the state, the Oregon Lottery was established in 1984 by Oregon voters.
On April 25, 1985, the Oregon Lottery began selling its first game, a Scratch-it called “Pot of Gold.” By November of that year, Oregon’s Game Megabucks℠ followed as the first computer-operated lottery game in Oregon.
A new multi-state lottery game, Lotto America, is launched, with Oregon as one of the seven original members. The game is now Powerball and is played in 47 lottery jurisdictions.
The Oregon Lottery is now offering Keno, Powerball®, Daily 4, Breakopens (pull-tabs), and Video Lottery℠ games (poker only) throughout the state. The Video Lottery gaming system served as a milestone, as it was the first 24-hour, centrally controlled gaming system in the country.
Oregon voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing Lottery funds to be used for public education. Today, 53% of Lottery dollars go to public schools.
Oregon voters again add a constitutional amendment to allow Lottery dollars to go to natural resources that include watershed enhancement and funding to State Parks. A total of 15% of Lottery funds go to these programs.
Win for Life, a new on-line draw game, is added to the Lottery’s game portfolio.
A Milwaukie couple wins a $30 million Oregon’s Game Megabucks jackpot. It is still the largest-ever jackpot won for that game.
The West and Chaney families from Southern Oregon win a $340 million Powerball jackpot. At that time, it was the largest U.S. jackpot ever won.
Total prizes won by Lottery winners exceeds $16 billion.
Oregon adds the multi-state game, Mega Millions, to its big jackpot game menu.
The Lottery surpasses the $1 billion sales level for the eighth consecutive year.
The Lottery Responsible Gambling Code of Practice that provides a proactive approach to the promotion of responsible gambling practices and details how the Lottery plans to implement its values as well as guidance to staff on ethical standards and how to achieve them.
Oregon voters approve a constitutional amendment allowing Lottery funds to be used for veteran services and Outdoor School. Today 4% of funds go to Outdoor School, and 1.5% go to veteran services.
The Oregon Lottery launches a sports betting game, Scoreboard, transitioning to DraftKings in 2022. Wagers can be placed through DraftKings’ app or on desktop computers.
Three players from Milwaukie share the largest jackpot in Oregon Lottery history: a $1.3 billion Powerball win, the fourth largest Powerball jackpot to date.
Lucky Lines is retired from the Lottery’s jackpot game lineup as a new game, Cash Pop, is launched.
To date, the Lottery has provided more than $16 billion to help fund statewide programs and projects Oregonians care about.
Featured Projects
LOTTERY DOLLARS DOING GOOD THINGS IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Economic Growth
State Parks
Outdoor School
Natural Habitats
Public Schools
