AnnuAl rEPort - Vermont Lottery

In fiscal year (FY) 2008, the Vermont Lottery proudly celebrated the 30th anniversary of its first ticket sale onFebruary 14, 1978. Lottery sales in the first year were $1.7 million, while in FY 2008, sales were $102 million.When the General Assembly established the Lottery in 1977, after a statewide referendum, the Lottery’sstated purpose in the enabling legislation was to “produce the maximum amount of net revenueconsonant with the dignity of the state and the general welfare of the people.” In support of thisgoal, the Vermont Lottery remains committed to contributing all proceeds to the Education Fund, whilealso strongly communicating the importance of responsible gaming.Since the sale of the first ticket in February of 1978, the Vermont Lottery has produced over $1.5 billion inoverall sales. From those sales, over $941 million has been returned to players in the form of prizes, over$86 million has gone back to the local communities and been paid to local Lottery agents in the form ofcommissions, and over $410 million has gone to the State of Vermont (Education Fund since FY 1999).In FY08, there was a comprehensive public policy discussion in the Legislature about the Lottery, andits future. What we took from that discussion was awareness that the Lottery was expected to grow itscontribution to the Vermont Education Fund, but not in ways that expand gaming beyond ourlong-standing responsible gaming principles.The staff and Commissioners of the Vermont Lottery are proud of their past contributions to the State ofVermont, and look forward to increasing the contributions to the state’s Education Fund in the next fiscal year,and beyond.Martha H. O’Connor, ChairAlan R. Yandow, Executive DirectorVermont Lottery Commission1311 US Route 302, Suite 100, Barre, VT 05641(802) 479-5686 • Fax: (802) 479-4294 • www.vtlottery.com2