Approved by voters in 1973, the Ohio Lottery began operating in 1974.
Through more than 10,000 retail agents, Ohioans wager an average of about $200 per capita yearly on the lottery's instant scratch-off games, online games, Pick 3, Pick 4, Buckeye 5, and the six-number Super Lotto.
Ohio's lottery ranks among the top five in the US in both per capita instant game sales and for total lottery sales.
All profits from the lottery -- roughly a third of sales -- go to the Lottery Profits For Education Fund, which constitutes 7-8% of the state's education budget.

Lottery Ticket Sales Remain Roughly the Same Despite Economic Situation
OHIO, USA (December 21, 2008) -- Sales of Ohio Lottery tickets were up about 1.4 percent or $15 million during the 2007 fiscal year as of December 4..................Subscribers

Keno Still Struggling to Find Players
OHIO, USA (December 14, 2008) – According to local media reports after four months, Keno is struggling to find players................Subscribers

Lottery Not Targeting People to Spend More, But Hoping More People Buy a Ticket or Two This Holiday Season
CLEVELAND, Ohio (December 9, 2008) - Economically, times are tough. But the Ohio Lottery is managing to tread water in 2008 and is doing “OK.”.................Subscribers

Keno Revenue Falling Short of Projections, New Game off to Slow Start
CLEVELAND, Ohio, USA (November 25, 2008) - The fast-paced Keno game that's expected to help plug the gaping hole in the state budget is reportedly off to a slow start................Subscribers

Lotto Butler at Your Service
CLEVELAND, Ohio (Nov 16, 2008) - A new company promises to make playing the Ohio State Lottery easier for busy people by handling the ticket-buying for customers. The Ohio Lottery says it............Subscribers

Ohio Lottery Director Accused of Withholding Key Information From State Lawmakers
COLUMBUS, Ohio (November 14, 2008) – Michael Dolan, executive director of the Ohio Lottery Commission, testified in Franklin County Common Pleas Court on Friday that he knew a new lottery vendor had been selected when he entered a legislative committee meeting on May 5 that would determine the fate of a proposed keno game - but he told lawmakers...................Subscribers

Keno Sales in Ohio Picking Up After Sluggish Start
COLUMBUS, Ohio, USA (September 26, 2008) -- Revenue statewide from keno totaled $12.9 million in the seven weeks since the Aug. 4 start of the game..............Subscribers

Vendors Give Keno Positive Early Reviews
OHIO (September 26, 2008) -- Poor economic conditions have hurt sales for the first six weeks of Ohio Lottery Commission's newest lottery game, but the commission and vendors remain optimistic................Subscribers

Ohio Lottery's New Keno Does $7.2 Million in Business the First Month
CLEVELAND, Ohio (September 5, 2008) -- Keno, the Ohio Lottery's newest game, finished up its first month of operation this week. As of Sunday, Keno brought in $7.2 million and awarded $4.6 million in prizes.................Subscribers

Ohio Lottery Operator on Track for a July 1, 2009 Launch Date For Its Systems And Programs
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio (August 22, 2008) – According to local media reports INTRALOT, the company selected to run Ohio's state lottery, has leased 46,061 square feet in Strongsville's Park 82 industrial park. The company's lease.................Subscribers

KENO Already a Booming Success
OHIO, USA (August 16, 2008) -- The state of Ohio just recently made the lottery game keno available to players in early August, and local business who now have the game in shop told NEWS9 that it's already a booming success.................Subscribers

Ohio Lottery Says Keno Kickoff Going Smoothly
COLUMBUS, Ohio, USA (August 4, 2008) — The Ohio Lottery says the new Keno game is operating smoothly through its first drawings......................Subscribers

Ready for Keno Launch, Monday, Aug. 4
CLEVELAND, Ohio, USA (July 30, 2008) -- On Monday, August 4, the Ohio Lottery debuts Keno in retailer locations with monitor game licenses..................Subscribers

Lottery Racks Up Sales Despite Difficult Economic Times
OHIO, USA (July 13, 2008) -- The stock market is falling to new lows as gasoline and food keep getting more expensive, good jobs dry up and credit gets tighter, but according to Dan Metelsky, deputy director for sales and product development for the Ohio Lottery Commission, lottery sales were up about 2 percent last year.....................Subscribers

Ohio Businesses Lining Up For Keno
TOLEDO, Ohio, USA (July 6, 2008) -- More than 1,000 bars, restaurants, racetracks, bowling alleys and other establishments have applied to the state to bring the Ohio Lottery's new Keno game to patrons...................Subscribers

New State Law Bans Pull-Tab Dispensers
MARYLAND, USA (July 2, 2008) – A new state law that targets the modern Pull-tab dispensers officially went into effect this week...................Subscribers

Ohio Businesses Gear Up For Keno
OHIO, USA (June 30, 2008) – In January, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland put forth the idea of adding Keno to the lottery mix as a way to keep the state budget in the black..................Subscribers

Controlling Board OKs New Lottery Vendor
Columbus, Ohio (June 16, 2008) – The state Controlling Board, which approves major spending requests, voted this afternoon to hand over the lottery's online games contract from................Subscribers

Ohio Lottery Contract Update
COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 14, 2008) -- Ohio Lottery Director Michael Dolan is reported to have sent a letter to GTECH on Friday refuting the company’s claims that it botched the bidding process when it awarded its lottery contract to a competitor..............Subscribers

Venues Line-Up for Keno
COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 13, 2008) -- Plenty of restaurant and bar owners in Ohio are ready to bet on keno................Subscribers

Panel Poised to OK Funds for Keno Venture
COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 2, 2008) -- Opposition in the Legislature to Governor Ted Strickland's idea to bring KENO to Ohio's bars and restaurants has all but evaporated.....................Subscribers

Ohio Lottery Contract - Update
COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 2, 2008) – The state Controlling Board, made up of six lawmakers and a Governor’s representative, that votes on major spending proposals, denied a request by Lottery Director Michael A. Dolan to approve a one-year contract with INTRALOT.....................Subscribers

Panel Postpones Voting on Lottery Contract Pending Outcome of Appeal Filed by GTECH
COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 2, 2008) - Members of the state Controlling Board say they will await the outcome of an appeal filed by the losing company. The Ohio Lottery Commission hears the appeal by GTECH Corp. on..................Subscribers

Ohio Lottery Contract - Update
OHIO (May 27, 2008) – GTECH executives, Robert K. Vincent and Alan Eland, held a press conference in Cleveland today in which they suggested that the lottery could be in for a rude awakening if it sticks with INTRALOT...............Subscribers

GTECH Files Protest Regarding Ohio Lottery Contract
CLEVELAND, Ohio (May 27, 2008) – GTECH Corp. on Tuesday sent a letter of protest to Ohio Lottery Executive Director Michael Dolan asking for..............Subscribers

Ohio Lottery Releases Bid Scores
COLUMBUS, Ohio (May 15, 2008) -- The lottery had maintained that the scores wouldn’t become public until the state Controlling Board, a bipartisan panel of lawmakers that votes on major spending requests, formally agreed to a contract, however.........................Subscribers

Ohio Lottery Commission is Requesting Bids for LCD Monitors (Lottery Keno Monitors)...................Subscribers

INTRALOT Apparent Successful Bidder for Gaming Contract; Controlling Board Approval Pending
Terms to Provide an Estimated $200 Million Cost Savings Over Life of the Contract
CLEVELAND, Ohio (May 12, 2008) –  The Ohio Lottery notified INTRALOT of Duluth, GA that it is the apparent successful vendor to operate the agency’s gaming system services beginning July 1, 2009. The contract will go before the state’s Controlling Board on June 2 for final approval..................Subscribers

Panel Clears Way For Keno
State Controlling Board Approves Spending To Start, Operate Game
OHIO, USA (May 6, 2008) -- Keno cleared its final legislative hurdle yesterday...............Subscribers

Lottery Testing Fully Automated Lottery Machine
CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio (May 3, 2008) -- A fully automated lottery machine, which sells every type of lottery ticket, was installed last month in............Subscribers

House Does an About Face on Keno Ban
House Extracts Lottery Keno Ban From Payday Lending Bill
COLUMBUS, Ohio (April 30, 2008) -- State lawmakers who oppose the introduction of the new KENO lottery game have lost their attempt to attach a ban on the game to a bill intended to crack down on the payday lending industry..................Subscribers

Panel Gives OK to Keno
COLUMBUS, Ohio (April 21, 2008) – Governor Ted Strickland's plan to launch a new lottery game cleared a ten (10) member panel of lawmakers Monday without objection...............Subscribers

Lottery Debuts EZPLAY Games Today
CLEVELAND, Ohio (April 14, 2008) -- The Ohio Lottery is introducing an alternative to the “scratch” with the release of terminal-generated instant games, branded as EZPLAY™ Games, on Monday, April 14...................Subscribers

Keno Supporters and Opponents Voice Their Opinions to Lottery Commission Lawyers and Staffers
CLEVELAND, Ohio (March 28, 2008) – A public hearing for comment on Governor Ted Strickland’s Keno plan was held Friday at Cleveland's Lausche State Office Building...............Subscribers

Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Outlaw Keno
A bill that would ban the Ohio Lottery from expanding into Keno gaming has been introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives
OHIO, USA (March 26, 2008) -- Representative John Adams has introduced House Bill 514, which places limits on certain lottery games..................Subscribers

Keno Plan Faces Growing Opposition, Governor Pulls Request to Expand Lottery
COLUMBUS, Ohio (March 18, 2008) -- Next Monday the Ohio Lottery Commission had reportedly intended to ask a legislative panel that approves expenditures to release almost $18 million for equipment needed to operate the state's new Keno system....................Subscribers

Keno Expansion in Jeopardy
COLUMBUS, Ohio, USA (March 18, 2008) -- A request for money by the Ohio Lottery Commission to expand gaming is in jeopardy..............Subscribers

Notice of Public Hearing on a New Ohio Lottery Administrative On-Line Game Rule
Notice is hereby given that the Ohio Lottery Commission intends to adopt one new Ohio Lottery Administrative On-line Game Rule in Proposed Form..............Subscribers

Online Lottery Contract Wording Challenged
COLUMBUS, Ohio, USA (February 23, 2008) -- The Strickland administration is expected to award the state's online lottery contract, worth about $250 million over the next decade, later this year................Subscribers

Lottery Commission Approves Rules for Keno
OHIO, USA (February 22, 2008) -- The state Lottery Commission today approved rules to govern the fast-paced lottery game Keno...............Subscribers

Ohioans Asked to Help Prove Statistics Can Predict the Rolling Cash Lottery System offers odds of winning a Rolling Cash jackpot that are 37 times better than random numbers
CLEVELAND, Ohio, USA (February 19, 2008) -- Have you ever wondered if lotteries can be predicted? One web site claims it has found a way to deliver exceptional odds of winning a jackpot, and wants to prove it by establishing a statewide network to play the Ohio Rolling Cash lottery.............Subscribers

Expansion of State Lottery Could Face a Legal Challenge
Opponents Lining Up to Keep Ohio From Adding Keno
COLUMBUS, Ohio (February 2, 2008) – Governor Ted Strickland wants to expand the Ohio Lottery to include Keno to stave off cuts to education funding................Subscribers

Red Ball Promotion to Boost Pick 3 Prize
TOLEDO, Ohio (February 2, 2008) – According to news sources the Ohio Lottery is giving players of the Pick 3 midday and evening drawings a chance for increased winnings this month..............Subscribers

Keno to Help With Budget Shortfall
COLUMBUS, Ohio (January 31, 2008) - Governor Strickland says the state will begin state-run video Keno gambling in an effort to deal with a budget shortfall that could total nearly $2 billion by June 2009..............Subscribers

State to Expand Lottery Products
COLUMBUS, Ohio (January 31, 2008) – At a press conference today Governor Ted Strickland announced that the Ohio Lottery Commission will be allowed to refresh game products and add games:...........Subscribers

Lottery to Pay Spelling Bee Fee
YOUNGSTOWN October 19, 2007) -- The Ohio State Lottery is offering to pay the fee for any Ohio school wishing to enter its pupils in a qualifying regional bee for the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee........Subscribers

Walter J. Smith, 87, Lottery Marketing Chief Died Monday
AVON, Ohio (August 22, 2007) -- Walter J. ''Snuffy'' Smith, 87, died Monday, August 20, 2007, at the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky after a brief residence there............Subscribers

Cash Explosion Roars Into Top Spot
CLEVELAND, Ohio, USA (August 13, 2007) -- The Cash Explosion instant game has been flying off the shelves as fans of the instant ticket and companion TV show began making their ticket purchases..........Read the full story at: Vo.40 No.8

New Ohio Lottery Game Ten-OH! Begins Aug. 5
CLEVELAND, Ohio (July 25, 2007) -- You only have to match half the numbers or less to win in Ten-OH!, the brand new draw game from The Ohio State Lottery.............Subscribers

Lottery Receives Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
CLEVELAND, Ohio, USA (July 16, 2007) -- For the 10th consecutive year, The Ohio State Lottery has earned the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting awarded by the...........Read the full story at: Vol.40 No.4

Ohio Lottery Reports Increase In Sales, Funds To Schools
CLEVELAND, Ohio, USA (July 2, 2007) -- The Ohio State Lottery provided $669.3 million for the Lottery Profits Education Fund (LPEF) in Fiscal Year 2007.............Read the full story at: Vol.40 No.2

Ohio Lottery Will Revive 'Cash Explosion' TV Show
CLEVELAND, Ohio, USA (June 18, 2007) -- The Ohio Lottery reportedly intends to terminate its "Make Me Famous, Make Me Rich" weekly television show, which failed to meet expectations..............Subscribers

Michael A. Dolan, Director of the Ohio Lottery Commission
Michael A. Dolan was recently named Director of the Ohio Lottery Commission. As Director, he oversees a state agency with sales of $2 billion a year, administering instant and on-line lottery game products through a statewide network of licensed retailers...............Subscribers

Review Finds Nothing To Derail Lottery Commission Appointment
COLUMBUS, Ohio, USA (April 22, 2007) -- The Senate Finance Committee is reportedly expected to move forward next week with the confirmation of J. Patrick McDonald to the Ohio Lottery Commission after looking into concerns about his e-mails at the state treasurer’s office............Subscribers

Lottery Transfers Record Amount to Education Fund
CLEVELAND, Ohio (April 05, 2007) -- The Ohio Lottery transferred a record $72.6 million to the Lottery Profits Education Fund from March operations............Subscribers

Ohio Lottery Sells Out OSU Score For Pick 4 Game
CLEVELAND, Ohio, USA (April 3, 2007) -- The final score for Monday's Ohio State-Florida NCAA Championship game proved to be a popular number for the Ohio Lottery Tuesday.........Subscribers

Senator Halts Confirmation For Lottery Commission Appointment
COLUMBUS, Ohio (March 31, 2007) – Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Carey has reportedly declined to support the confirmation of one of Governor Taft's appointments to the Ohio Lottery Commission............Subscribers

New Lottery Chief Plans Revitalization to Blunt Competition
COLUMBUS, Ohio, USA (March 25, 2007) -- Michael Dolan, the Cleveland City Council member tapped by Governor Ted Strickland to lead the Ohio Lottery said he's committed to reversing the slide in sales to realize the lottery's mission of subsidizing public education..........Subscribers

Sunday Drawings, New Draw Game Planned To Increase Commitment to LPEF
CLEVELAND, Ohio, USA (March 19, 2007) -- The Ohio Lottery Commission will present Sunday draws and a new Pick 10-style draw game to Ohio Lottery Commissioners.............Subscribers

City Councilman to Head Ohio Lottery
COLUMBUS, Ohio, USA (March 20, 2007) -- Governor Ted Strickland announced today the appointment of Michael Dolan as the executive director of the Ohio Lottery Commission..............Read the full story at: Vol.38 No.13

Kicker Sales Interrupt Mega Millions Wagering
Inconvenience to Players, Lost Profits to be Addressed CLEVELAND, Ohio, USA (March 7, 2007) -- The volume of Kicker transactions brought Mega Millions wagering to a halt Tuesday, March 6, at 10:10 p.m. Sales resumed at 10:39 p.m. A computer file that stores purchased Kicker wagers on the Ohio Lottery’s gaming system.............Subscribers

Advisory Panel Recommends Scaling Back Return to Lottery Players
CLEVELAND, Ohio, USA (February 12, 2007) -- A report by Governor Ted Strickland's transition advisers reportedly said the Ohio Lottery has an "inordinately high percentage of prize payouts.".............Subscribers

U.S. Census Bureau Corrects Lottery Figures
LOTTERY INSIDER (February 12, 2007) -- Lottery Insider recently published figures titled “Income and Apportionment of State-Administered Lottery Funds for 2005” released by U.S. Census Bureau, Governments Division. However, Mardele Cohen, Deputy Director, Communications, Ohio Lottery Commission, has advised that her agency subsequently disputed the administrative costs published by the bureau, and asked for a correction.  As a result, the bureau realized there were problems with the collection of the data...............Subscribers

Ohio Reports Increase in Lottery Sales, Revenue Up 3% for Fiscal '06
OHIO, USA (January 22, 2007) -- Ohio Lottery's ticket sales increased by three (3) percent for the fiscal year that ended June 30, compared with the previous 12-month period, according to the Ohio Lottery Commission's annual report..........Subscribers

Panels Recommends Reduced Lottery Prize Payout Ratio
COLUMBUS, Ohio, USA (January 13, 2007) -- The new governor's transition advisers have reportedly said Ohio should consider lowering its lottery prizes to raise more money for education........Subscribers

Governor Appoints Two New Lottery Commission Members
COLUMBUS, Ohio, USA (January 3, 2007) -- Governor Bob Taft yesterday appointed his former chief of staff, whose last day was Friday, and the deputy state treasurer to positions on the Ohio Lottery Commission..........Subscribers

Ohio Lottery Instant Games Set All-Time Weekly Sales Record
CLEVELAND, Ohio, USA (December 28, 2006) -- Brisk holiday sales have pushed Ohio Lottery instant game sales to $37,950,128 for the week ending Dec.23, an all-time weekly sales record..........................Subscribers

Lottery Sales Resume After Software Fix
CLEVELAND, Ohio (December 21, 2006) -- The Ohio Lottery shut down wagering for Lot ‘O Play at 6:32 a.m. this morning after discovering that the multi-draw cutoff did not work properly............................Subscribers

Classic Lotto Begins January 21, 2007
New Game To Be Drawn Mondays, Wednesdays And Saturdays
CLEVELAND, Ohio, USA (December 19, 2006) -- When tickets go on sale beginning Sunday, Jan. 21, Classic Lotto becomes the new million dollar game in town.  It’s a traditional or “classic” style lotto game in which players choose six numbers from a pool of numbers from 1 to 49 -- and they’ll know at a glance if they’ve won..........................Read the full story at: Vol.37 No.12

Say Farewell to Lot ‘O Play
Final Drawing Jan. 20, with “Roll Down” Opportunity for Players
CLEVELAND, Ohio, USA (December 19, 2006) -- Ohio is about to say goodbye to Lot ‘O Play.  After a run that began Oct. 9, 2005, the game is set to hold its final drawing Saturday, Jan. 20, 2007................................Subscribers

Lottery board should operate more efficiently
OHIO, USA (November 27, 2006) -- The reporter who wrote the article “Lottery board should operate more efficiently” - see below - should have checked his facts – perhaps contacted the Ohio Lottery Commission directly for needed financial data.................................Subscribers

Lottery Board Should Operate More Efficiently, Operating Costs Criticized
OHIO, USA (November 26, 2006) – An article in a local news source calls on state officials to force the Ohio Lottery Commission to operate more efficiently......................Subscribers

Governor Appoints New Ohio Lottery Commission Director
CLEVELAND, Ohio, USA (September 7, 2006) -- Governor Bob Taft recently appointed Mike Abouserhal, CPA, 47, as the new Director of the Ohio Lottery Commission.  Mr. Abouserhal, the Ohio Lottery’s Assistant Director since Jan. 19, 2005, replaced Tom Hayes, who stepped down Aug. 18...........Subscribers

Ohio Lottery Names Gwen Penn Online Products Manager
CLEVELAND, Ohio, USA (September 7, 2006) -- Gwen Penn was recently named the Ohio Lottery’s On-line Products Manager, replacing Sharon Murray, who retired this past August............Subscribers

Court Dismisses Lottery Lawsuit, Orders Man To Pay Costs
OHIO, USA (September 5, 2006) -- The Ohio Court of Claims has dismissed a claim by a man who sued the Ohio Lottery Commission, claiming that the lottery’s promise of billions of dollars for public schools was false.............Subscribers

New Ohio Lottery Director Appointed
CLEVELAND, Ohio (August 17, 2006) -- An executive with the Ohio Lottery was appointed on Thursday to replace Tom Hayes as director...............................Subscribers

Lottery Director Hired to Oversee General Election
OHIO, USA (August 11, 2006) -- Ohio Lottery Director Tom Hayes will reportedly oversee the general election..........................Subscribers

Make Me Famous, Make Me Rich Instant Games Go On Sale Aug. 4; Offer Chance to be on New Lottery TV Show
CLEVELAND, Ohio, USA (August 3, 2006) --  There’s more ways to play and more ways to win with the introduction of the Make Me Famous, Make Me Rich instant games.......................Read the full story at: Vol.36 No.6

Instant Tickets Continue to Drive Lottery Sales
TOLEDO, Ohio, USA (July 19, 2006) -- Instant tickets continue to drive the highest sales growth in the history of the Ohio Lottery. Successful marketing and an increasing number of players have pushed sales up $55 million.............................Subscribers

Limited Quantities, Great Top Prize Odds for New, Old-Fashioned Raffle Game
CLEVELAND, Ohio, USA (July 17, 2006) -- A good, old-fashioned raffle game, Raffle to Riches, goes on sale statewide on July 23. As an Ohio Lottery game, it's also got the best on-line game odds ever...............................Subscribers

Lottery Secures Year-End Transfers of $646.3 Million
CLEVELAND, Ohio, USA (July 5, 2006) -- On June 30, the Ohio Lottery wrapped up Fiscal Year 2006, securing total fiscal year transfers of.........Read the full story at: Vol.36 No.1

Long Running Lottery TV Show to Retire This Fall
OHIO, USA (June 12, 2006) -- Say farewell to Cash Explosion Double Play, which will air its final episode on Saturday, September 30. One of the lottery industry’s longest-running TV shows, Cash Explosion Double Play will be replaced.................Read the full story at: Vol.35 No.11

$265 Million Mega Millions Jackpot Hit in Cincinnati is Claimed Today
CINCINNATI, Ohio, USA (May 2, 2006) -- Cincinnati’s first Mega Millions jackpot winner claimed in trust today at the Ohio Lottery’s Cleveland headquarters.............Subscribers

Scratch-Off Games are Becoming More Popular
OHIO, USA (April 9, 2006) – Instant tickets have accounted for more than half of the Ohio Lottery’s income since 1997, and the portion is growing.........Subscribers

Ohio Lottery’s Popular Pick 3 Red Ball Promotion Returns
CLEVELAND, Ohio, USA (January 30, 2006) -- Beginning Monday, Feb. 6, players can look forward to the return of the Ohio Lottery’s popular Pick 3 Red Ball promotion............Subscribers

Is the Ohio Lottery's New Game Too Complicated?
CLEVELAND, Ohio, USA (January 7, 2006) -- The Ohio Lottery's newest game, which replaced Super Lotto Plus in October, has reportedly gone three months without a jackpot winner..............Subscribers