Indiana’s Hoosier Lottery celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The first ticket was sold on October 13, 1989 and since then the lottery has paid out $13.9 billion in prizes, created a network of more than 4,300 retailers and generated $6 billion for the state.
Additionally, the lottery has contributed $887.6 million to the Teachers’ Retirement Fund, $699.7 million to local police and firefighters’ pensions and $4.4 billion to the Build Indiana Fund, which provides money for statewide technology projects.
Hoosier Lottery Executive Director Sarah M. Taylor said, “We are so proud of the revenue we’ve generated for the state, and that our revenue is being used to support the pension plans for our retired teachers, police officers and firefighters. These dedicated Hoosiers educated our children and protected our lives and property. We hope that our support helps them enjoy their retirement for years to come.”
The Hoosier Lottery also has saved motorists $4 billion, since one of its goals was to lower the price of license plates. “All the money that we put in goes to offset the motor vehicle excise tax by up to 50 percent. When you go get those plates, you’re definitely paying less,” Taylor said.
She also noted the role of technology in the lottery’s success. “The heart of our business is security and integrity and people’s belief that we’re running fair games, and so technology plays a huge role in that and will in the future too,” Taylor said. Currently the Hoosier Lottery uses computerized drawings for Cash 5, Hoosier Lotto, Hoosier Lotto +PLUS and Quick Draw. Cash4Life, Daily 3, Daily 4, Mega Millions, and Powerball use traditional lottery ball machines.
Taylor said the future of the lottery depends on staying relevant and using competitive marketing strategies. “You have to have engaging games. You have to launch new games. You have to have licensed properties like on the scratch-offs; we did a Walking Dead ticket, the Indianapolis Colts, etc. So you have to dial it up and change your games and find out what the public really wants,” she said.
To celebrate its first three decades, the Hoosier Lottery launched a campaign highlighting individuals who have been impacted by it–players, retailers, employees. Another campaign, Hoosier Heroes, pays tribute to police, firefighters and teachers who have come out of retirement to volunteer during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The celebration is set to conclude at the Indiana State Fair in August.
