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Our

Story

The Montana Lottery was created by Montanans for Montanans

Since selling our first scratch ticket in 1987, we’ve paid over $1.06 billion in prizes to winners and returned approximately $361.3 million to the State of Montana and $104.5 million in sales agent commissions. And that’s all thanks to you, our players!

When the Lottery first began, there was no Powerball, no Montana Millionaire, no Treasure Play, and no Sports Bet Montana. And yet, over the last 38 years, you’ve helped bring the excitement of winning to Montanans everywhere. That’s right! Every Lottery ticket purchased, game number scratched, or sports wager made has gone to support Montana residents – and it’s made all the difference.

See the Impact

Our Mission

The mission of the Montana Lottery is to maximize net profit for the Montana STEM Scholarship program and the transfer to the state’s General Fund. The greatest return to our sales agents, players and all Montanans occurs by providing exemplary products to meet the state’s market demands while adhering to optimal standards of security and integrity.

Annual Reports

The History of the Montana Lottery

The Dream Begins
1
The idea of starting a lottery in Montana was the brainchild of longtime Butte state Rep. Bob Pavlovich. Pavlovich and Butte Sen. Lawrence Stimatz sponsored a bill in the 1985 Montana Legislature to create a lottery for Montana.
A Referendum is Born
2
“The bill died,” Pavlovich said. But, in the final days of the session, Pavlovich went to the lawmakers who opposed it and asked if they would stand in the way of creating a legislative referendum – a legislative vehicle carrying the weight of law in which lawmakers ask voters to decide on a matter. With just days left to go in the session, Pavlovich garnered the 75 legislative signatures necessary and Legislative Referendum 100 was born.
Success at Last
3
Montanans had to wait more than a year – until Nov. 4, 1986 – to vote on the creation of a lottery. But when they did, the voters spoke decisively. The referendum passed in all 56 counties, carried by 69 percent of the vote.
Our First Ticket
4
The Montana Lottery sold its first ticket on June 24, 1987. The enthusiasm Montanans had for the Lottery they created was evident on the first day: The state sold a record 1.1 million lottery tickets on its opening day of sales – a figure that comes out to $1.28 per Montana citizen and set a new record for per capita, opening day lottery sales in the United States.
Winners Happen!
5
The Montana Lottery began selling only one thing: A $1 Scratch ticket called “Pot of Gold.” Gov. Ted Schwinden bought the first two tickets ever sold. He was standing on a flatbed truck at the Montana Lottery kick-off event a few blocks from the Montana Capitol in Helena. Schwinden didn’t win. But four hours away, another Montanan, Shirley Waldo of Billings, also bought a ticket. Waldo won the state’s first-ever jackpot of $10,000 on tickets she bought the very first day they were sold.
Lottery Sales Soar
6
On average, we’ve paid out $77,018 every single day that we’ve been in business to our winners. In our first full year, we sold $21.8 million in Lottery tickets. Last fiscal year 2024, we sold $154.2 million. Our sales have grown by 707 percent while maintaining the same average number of employees as we had back in 1987.
Growth for Montana
7
We were created to generate revenue (and fun!) for the citizens of Montana. Over the last three decades, state lawmakers have changed the state programs funded by our revenues. Since the 1990s, our revenues have gone to the Montana General Fund – where lawmakers use our revenues, along with all other state revenues, to fund the majority of state government and programs. The law that created us called for 45 percent of our revenue to be paid back out as prizes. We’ve delivered – and then some.
Fun Changes Lives
8
The impacts of the Montana Lottery can be seen every day in every corner of our state, starting with our winners. In fact, $1.06 billion dollars of prizes have been won, and winnings continue to be the majority of where our funds are paid every year. But the Montana Lottery is much more than just games!
Building Future Generations
9
Any time you purchase a Lottery ticket, you are helping support the largest scholarship program for Montana students. The Lottery has provided $2.25 million dollars each year to the STEM Scholarship program, which is reserved for Montana students and allows our youth to excel in higher education while pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering, math, or healthcare.
Investing in Small Businesses
10
Further, every time a Lottery ticket is sold or a sports wager is made, a small business owner also gains commissions. To date, $104.5 million dollars have been earned by our small business partners across our vast state.
We all Win
11
We are proud of the integrity of our Lottery and we are proud of the work we do on behalf of Montanans. Every Lottery purchase provides the opportunity to give dollars back to the General Fund to support Montana and our citizens. Since our inception, $361.3 million dollars has been provided for the benefit of our state – and that makes us all winners!
Our Dedicated Team
12
The Montana Lottery also employs a team of Montanans who work every day to bring fun to fellow Montanans with a high level of security and integrity. This dedication to fulfill our promise of a product that delivers entertainment backed by trust ensures a relationship of confidence between Lottery, its players, and the state we call home. We are the Montana Lottery. Where winners happen!

Timeline of Events

Travel back in time and uncover the complete history of the Montana Lottery, where fun has always changed lives.

Lottery Events

Big Jackpots, Big Winners

Check out the history of some of our biggest winners from right here in Montana! 

1
1990
January 13, 1990
Lotto America jackpot prize of $1,740,000

May 9, 1990
Lotto America jackpot prize of $3,000,000
2
1991
February 2, 1991
Lotto America jackpot prize of $7,360,000

November 23, 1991
Lotto America jackpot prize of $46,967,738.57
3
1992
April 11, 1992
Lotto America jackpot prize of $2,000,000
4
1994
July 6, 1994
First Tri-West Lotto jackpot prize of $700,565
5
1995
July 22, 1995
Sun Prairie winner claimed Powerball jackpot prize of $31,401,656 in Great Falls
6
1996
March 20, 1996
Tri-West Lotto jackpot prize of $1,444,000
7
1997
April 5, 1997
Powerball jackpot prize of $11,000,000 hit in Kalispell
8
1999
March 27, 1999
East Glacier winner claimed Powerball jackpot prize of $19,347,789 in Kalispell
9
2003
October 8, 2003
Hot Lotto jackpot prize of $3,680,000 hit
10
2010
June 23, 2010
Powerball split jackpot prize of $48.45 million each – one in Helena
11
2011
July 6, 2011
Powerball prize of $1,000,000 claimed in Sweet Grass.
12
2013
August 31, 2013
Powerball prize of $2,000,000 claimed in Havre
13
2015
February 26, 2015
Lucky for Life $25,000 a year for life prize won in Helena

March 4, 2015
Powerball prize of $1,000,000 claimed in Great Falls

June 8, 2015
Lucky for Life $25,000 a year for life prize won in Missoula

August 17, 2015
Lucky for Life $25,000 a year for life prize won in Winifred
14
2017
September 4, 2017
Lucky for Life $25,000 a year for life prize won in Great Falls
15
2019
April 8, 2019
Lucky for Life $1,000 a day for life/$365,000 a year for life prize won in Great Falls

November 6, 2019
Powerball prize of $2,000,000 claimed in Great Falls
16
2021
January 23, 2021
Powerball prize of $1,000,000 claimed in Billings
17
2022
January 3, 2022
Powerball prize of $2,000,000 claimed in Conrad

November 2, 2022
Powerball prize of $2,000,000 claimed in Kalispell
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2525 North Montana Avenue
Helena, MT 59601-0598
406-444-5825 | 406-444-9642 (TTY)

[email protected]

While the Montana Lottery endeavors to provide accurate and complete information on this website, it does not expressly or impliedly represent that the information or any links/references to outside information are error-free. You may obtain accurate prize award and drawing number information by contacting the Montana Lottery and verifying this information through the Montana Lottery gaming system accessible at the Montana Lottery office in Helena.

The Montana Lottery values the input and participation of all Montanans. If you use special adaptive equipment and encounter problems when using this website, please report them to us at 406.444.5825. You may also contact us on our TTY connection at 406.444.9642 or by email at montanalottery.gov. We strive to make this website accessible to all Montanans and welcome your input on problems you may have encountered.

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Latest Drawings and Jackpots

(More drawing results can be found in the individual game pages.)

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WIN $1000/DAY FOR LIFE

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