November 5, 1991 - Constitutional Amendment authorizing State Lottery. Approved by a two-to-one margin (68%).
The Texas Lottery Commission has racked up more than $15 billion in sales since beginning operation in 1992. It contributes more than $1 billion a year to the state treasury; about two-thirds of the state's take goes to Texas schools.
The Texas lottery has two kinds of games: instant games, called "scratchers," and lotto, in which players try to match three, five, or six numbers.
Retailers such as grocery stores, gas stations, and liquor and convenience stores sell Texas lottery tickets, getting a 5% commission for each ticket they sell.
Under state law, prize payouts must average about 53% of lottery ticket sales.

Please forward to the Texas Lottery and download the current Summary Of Financials in PDF format - CLICK HERE

INTRALOT Submits Bid For Texas Lottery Contract
ATHENS, Greece (June 30, 2010) - The Greek lottery operator INTRALOT yesterday submitted its bid (cost proposal) for the Texas Lottery contract, which may generate as much as US$100m of annual revenues.................Subscribers

Deadline Nears For $675,000 Texas Two Step® Jackpot Prize From Drawing Held In January
AUSTIN, Texas (June 29, 2010) – Texas Lottery® officials are asking Texas Two Step® players to check their tickets as the July 10 deadline approaches to claim a prize from the January 11 drawing.......Subscribers

Poll Says Texans Favour Slots Over Higher Taxes
AUSTIN, Texas (June 29, 2010) - A new poll paid for by track owners showed 57 percent of Texas voters would rather see slot machines at racetracks instead of higher taxes.......Subscribers

Three Companies Meet Deadline for Texas Lottery Tender
AUSTIN, Texas (June 29, 2010) –As reported that by Tuesday three major lotteries and gaming companies had entered the bidding to run the Texas Lottery..........Subscribers

Charitable Bingo Distributions Up In 1Q 2010; Gross Receipts Down Slightly
AUSTIN, Texas (June 23, 2010) - During the first quarter of 2010, charitable bingo distributions climbed by nearly two percent over the same period in 2009, bringing Texas charities $9.1 million in revenue. Gross receipts were $184.1 million, down by 2.29 percent compared to the same quarter in 2009..........Subscribers

Competition Hot For Texas Lottery Contract
AUSTIN, Texas (June 24, 2010) - Companies that run lotteries around the world are expected to ante up by next week, proposing how they would oversee the Texas Lottery if they land its lucrative operations contract. The Texas contract, currently held by GTECH Corp...............Subscribers

Lawmakers Renew Push for More Gambling in Texas
HOUSTON, Texas (June 20, 2010) – reports some state lawmakers are renewing their push to bring casino gaming to Texas amid a projected multi-billion-dollar budget shortfall.................Subscribers

Two Texas Lottery® Retailers Awarded $50,000
AUSTIN, Texas (June 18, 2010) – Texas Lottery® officials presented checks worth $50,000 each to two Dallas-Fort Worth area retailers as part of an incentive program designed to increase sales of Texas Lottery tickets and revenue to the Foundation School Fund. From January 17 to April 17..............Subscribers

Pollard Banknote Awarded One-year Contract Extension by the Texas Lottery Commission
YPSILANTI, Michigan (June 10, 2010) -- The Texas Lottery Commission has awarded Pollard Banknote a one-year extension to its existing contract for instant ticket manufacturing and related services. The extension commences September 1, 2010, and ends August 31, 2011.......................Subscribers

Texas Lottery® Announce Free Jackpot Game Ticket Promotion
AUSTIN, Texas (June 4, 2010) – Texas Lottery® players who enjoy jackpot games have reason to celebrate. Beginning June 6 and continuing until June 26, players who purchase $10 or more on a single Powerball® ticket will receive a free $1 Mega Millions® Quick Pick ticket and a free $1 Lotto Texas® Quick Pick ticket..................Subscribers

Texas Lottery® Celebrates 18th Anniversary
AUSTIN, Texas (May 28, 2010) – Since the sale of the first lottery ticket on May 29, 1992, the Texas Lottery® has been among the top lotteries in the industry, all the while fulfilling its mission to generate revenue for education in the state of Texas........................Subscribers

Laser Printer Damages $48.8 million Winning Lottery Ticket
Lesson: Never Put A Winning Lottery Ticket In A Laser Printer
HOUSTON, Texas (May 12, 2010) - The mystery man who bought a winning lottery ticket in Alvin had to wait more than three months to get his $48.8 million prize because the ticket had been damaged, ...........Subscribers

New Texas Lottery® Scratch-Off Games To Offer Second Chance To Win Cash Prizes Up To $1 Million
Austin, Texas (May 13, 2010) -- At one time or another, everyone needs a second chance, and that is exactly what the new Jumbo Bucks games offer. Monday, May 17, three new versions of the classic game will launch – Jumbo Bucks III, Giant Jumbo Bucks III and Mega Jumbo Bucks III – offering instant-win prizes up to $250,000 and second-chance prizes up to $1 million.............Subscribers

Texas Lottery Postpones Bidding Again
AUSTIN, Texas (May 5, 2010) - Competition for the lucrative Texas Lottery contract is heating up and according to an Associated Press report, the Texas Lottery Commission is again extending its bid deadline at the request of a company expressing interest in competing...................Subscribers

Lottery Ticket Under Review
ALVIN, Texas (April 27, 2010) - The Texas Lottery Commission is looking into a claim for a $76 million Lotto Texas jackpot after the apparent winner turned in a damaged ticket.....................Subscribers

Cowboys to Pick Up Some Lottery Scratch
DALLAS, Texas (March 26, 2010) – According to local media reports The Dallas Cowboys could receive up to $4.2 million from the Texas Lottery Commission for allowing the state to create a $5 Dallas Cowboys scratch-off game....................Subscribers

Lottery Presents $1 million Bonus Check to Retailer
KATY, Texas (March 23, 20100 - The Texas Lottery Commission presented Short Stop Market in Katy with a $1 million retailer bonus check Tuesday for selling the $144 million winning ticket for the Mega Millions drawing..................Subscribers

Online Information Leads Richmond Resident To $1 Million Texas Lottery® Scratch-Off Win
AUSTIN, Texas (March 15, 2010 ) – After looking up scratch-off game information on the official Texas Lottery® Web site at http://www.txlottery.org, Larry W. Tucker Jr. of Richmond purchased a $500,000,000 Blockbuster ticket. His research paid off when the ticket revealed a $1 million prize..................Subscribers

Charitable Bingo Gross Receipts for 2009 Highest Ever
AUSTIN, Texas (March 10, 2010) - Calendar year 2009 has proven to be the highest-grossing ever for charitable bingo since the game was legalized in 1981, with total receipts surpassing $693 million and players winning a record $518 million in prizes........................Subscribers

Texas Lottery Officials Move Ahead With Bidding
AUSTIN, Texas (March 9, 2010) – It was reported a Texas Lottery official said Tuesday that bidding on a new lottery contract should move forward because there's no evidence that state consultant Gartner Inc. and the lottery's current operator GTECH Corp. improperly shared information about the process.........................Subscribers

Texas Lottery® Joins Awareness Efforts of National Problem Gambling Awareness Week
AUSTIN, Texas (March 8, 2010) – This week, the Texas Lottery® joins the National Council on Problem Gambling in observing National Problem Gambling Awareness Week, through March 13. Groups nationwide are working to increase awareness about the negative impacts of problem gambling and provide information on resources for those dealing with gambling-related issues..................Subscribers

Texas Lottery Commission Appoints Gary Grief To Executive Director Position
Austin, Texas (March 9, 2010) – The three-member Texas Lottery Commission today appointed Gary Grief as executive director of the agency. Grief had been leading the agency as deputy executive director since October 2008.......................Subscribers

Lubbock State Representative to Lead Review of Texas Lottery Allegations
LUBBOCK, Texas (March 1, 2010) – Local news reported this morning that Lubbock State Representative Delwin Jones was appointed on Friday to lead a special State House subcommittee that will review allegations against two companies that did business with the Texas Lottery........................Subscribers

Texas Lottery® Surpasses $12 Billion In Revenue To Foundation School Fund
AUSTIN, Texas (February 19, 2010) –With a transfer of $73.3 million on February 10, the Texas Lottery® has now exceeded $12 billion in total transfers to the Foundation School Fund (FSF) since 1997. .....................Subscribers

Schulenburg Resident Wins $2.4 Million Monthly Bonus Prize; Noted Retail Outlet Sells Second Big-Prize Ticket
AUSTIN, Texas (February 16, 2010) – William E. Srubar of Schulenburg said it had not hit him yet that he won the top prize of $10,000 per month for 20 years in Monthly Bonus, a Texas Lottery® scratch-off ticket.  The difference between the time he bought the ticket and the time he got to Lottery headquarters in Austin was only a few hours......................Subscribers

Judge Orders Payment of Recovered Funds to Lottery Player Defrauded of a $1m Prize
AUSTIN, Texas (February 16, 2010) – The San Antonio Express reports a judge on Tuesday granted a Texas lottery player, who was defrauded of a one million dollar win by a former North Texas store clerk, $395,018 which has been recovered from U.S. bank accounts...................Subscribers

Lottery Player Defrauded of a $1m Prize to Return to Court to Press Claim
DALLAS, Fort Worth Texas (February 15, 2010) – A Texas lottery player who was defrauded of a one million dollar win by a former North Texas store clerk is expected to return to an Austin courtroom Tuesday trying to collect his winnings from the Texas Lottery Commission.......................Subscribers

Commissioner Examines Possible Lottery Conflict
AUSTIN, Texas (February 11, 2010) - The president and CEO of GTECH Corp., the state's lottery vendor, apologized for his company having a contract with a consultant that was also helping the Texas Lottery Commission write its major bid proposal.....................Subscribers

Lotto Texas Not Suffering Decline Due To powerball
DALLAS, Texas (February 3, 2010) - It's a whole new ball game for Texans, who will get their first shot at a Powerball jackpot...................Subscribers

Conflict of Interest Raised in Connection with Lottery Tender; Consultant Had Roles With State and Vendor
AUSTIN, Texas (January 22, 2010) - A consulting company that helped Texas write bidding rules for its upcoming lottery operator contract was simultaneously getting paid by GTECH Corp., the current vendor that intends to compete again for the state's lucrative lottery deal...................Subscribers

Texas Lottery Commission Approves Powerball® Rule
AUSTIN, Texas (January 6, 2010) - The Texas Lottery Commission today voted 3-0 to approve the new Powerball® game rule. Sales of Powerball tickets in Texas are expected to begin as early as Sunday, January 31, with the first Powerball drawing for Texas Lottery® players occurring on Wednesday, February 3........................Subscribers

Texas Lottery Commission Votes To Add Powerball
AUSTIN, Texas (January 6, 2010) - The Texas Lottery Commission has voted unanimously to add the big-money, multistate Powerball game to its offerings.....................Subscribers

Town Signs Including Lottery's To Be Revised
BAY CITY, Texas (December 21, 2009) - There was plenty of comments from Bay City council and the public on the city's proposed sign ordinance at a workshop Wednesday night..................Subscribers

Texas Lottery Refers Six Cases to Prosecutors
AUSTIN, Texas (December 22, 2009) - As reported today that at least six cases in which alleged Texas Lottery winnings were not properly paid have been referred to prosecutors since 2008.....................Subscribers

Scratch Ticket Generates More Than $1 Million In Funding State funds to offer additional help to veterans
WACO, Texas (December 21, 2009) - A state veterans advocacy agency is accepting applications for funds from $1 million in grants to provide assistance to veterans and their families...................Subscribers

Texas Lottery’s $50 Scratch-Off Game Remains Popular
AUSTIN, Texas (December21, 2009) - Texas was the first state to offer a $50 scratch-off game, and they remain a big hit, according to Robert Heith, director of media relations for the Texas Lottery Commission....................Subscribers

Supreme Court to Determine Legality of Ban Prohibiting Winners From “Selling Off” Their Lottery Payments To Finance Companies
Article By: Emily Ramshaw  writing for the Texas Tribune
AUSTIN, Texas (December 15, 2009) - The state’s ability to protect lottery winners from predatory finance companies comes before the Texas Supreme Court on Wednesday. At issue? Whether a measure lawmakers passed in 1999 banning winners from “selling off” their final two lottery payments to finance companies violates the state’s own commercial code.....................Subscribers

Veterans Lottery Ticket Sales Top $5M in First Month
CLEBURN, Texas (December 15, 2009) - Sales of Veterans Cash, a scratch-off lottery ticket created to fund veterans’ programs, totaled more than $5.3 million during their first month of sales, said state Rep. Chris Turner. The game launched on November 9..................Subscribers

SCAM ALERT: Texas Lottery® Receives Information About Mega Millions® E-Mail Scam
AUSTIN, Texas (December 10, 2009) – Texas Lottery® officials received information about a recent e-mail scam, and they are warning the public not to be fooled. A fake email message may be circulating that includes images, like the Mega Millions® logo, making it appear genuine........................Subscribers

State Representative Announce Lottery Ticket Rakes in $1 Million for Texas Veterans
AUSTIN, Texas (December 9, 2009) - State Representative Chris Turner (HD-96) announced today that $5.3 million dollars worth of the new Texas Veterans Cash lottery scratch-off ticket had been sold in its first month available to the public........................Subscribers

Texas Lottery Joins Initiative to Stop Giving Tickets to Kids
AUSTIN, Texas (December 4, 2009) - The Texas Lottery has reportedly joined forces with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and McGill University to discourage adults from purchasing lottery tickets as gifts for Christmas....................Subscribers

Player in Lottery Dispute Seeks Answers in Court
AUSTIN, Texas (November 24, 2009) -- Attorneys for defrauded Texas Lottery winner Willis Willis are asking a judge to require Texas Lottery Commission officials to answer key questions under oath regarding how a lottery agent was able to redeem Mr. Willis' $1 million winning ticket without raising suspicions and why the commission refuses to correct its mistake.......................Subscribers

Lottery Commission Seeks Competitive Salary Package for Director
AUSTIN, Texas (November 23, 2009) - News sources reported today that the Texas Lottery Commission is asking the governor and Legislative Budget Board to raise the salary ..............Subscribers

Lotto Victim Meets With Commissioners;  AG Files Motion to restore money to Defrauded Lottery Winner
AUSTIN, Texas (November 17, 2009) - News reports the legal battle over a stolen million dollar lottery ticket continued at the Texas Lottery Commission Tuesday.................Subscribers

Texas Lottery Commission Votes To Publish Powerball® Rule For Public Comment
AUSTIN, Texas (November 17, 2009) – The Texas Lottery Commission today voted 3-0 in favor of publishing a Powerball® game rule in the Texas Register in order to receive public comment.........................Subscribers

Texas Lottery® Introduces Veterans Cash Scratch-Off Benefitting Texas Veterans
AUSTIN, Texas (November 6, 2009) – With patriotic symbols and a healthy dose of red, white and blue, the new Veterans Cash scratch-off game promises to appeal to patriotic players. And since proceeds from this game will benefit the Fund for Veterans’ Assistance, players will know that their purchases will enhance veterans’ programs throughout the state of Texas....................Subscribers

Lottery Will Not Compensate Man Who Lost His $1Million to Crooked Convenience Store Employee
AUSTIN, Texas (November 2, 2009) – It was reported recently that a lawyer representing a man who police said lost his winning lotto money to a crooked convenience store clerk said they would try to get the Texas Lottery Commission to pay him the money he is owed........................Subscribers

Attorneys for Million-Dollar Lottery Winner Say Texas Lottery Should Do The Right Thing, Pay Winner Now
AUSTIN, Texas (October 28, 2009) -- Even though it's been five months since 67-year-old Willis Willis of Grand Prairie, Texas, won $1 million in the Texas Lottery, he has yet to receive a single dime. Now.................Subscribers

Investigators Allege Clerk Took Lottery Winnings
AUSTIN, Texas (October 21, 2009) - It was reported today that investigators say they believe a 25-year-old convenience store clerk claimed $1 million in lottery winnings that belonged to a customer, then disappeared..................Subscribers

Lottery Unveils Scratch-Off For Veterans
AUSTIN, Texas (October 19, 2009) -- Call it gambling for veterans. It was reported today that the Texas Lottery Commission on November 9, just ahead of Veterans Day, will start selling the first scratch-off ticket dedicated to a cause other than public education, where game profits now go....................Subscribers

Agreement May Bring Powerball® To Texas
AUSTIN, Texas (October 12, 2009) – The Texas Lottery Commission announced today that an agreement in principle has been reached between the Mega Millions® consortium and the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) to allow for the sale of both Mega Millions and Powerball® tickets in all U.S. lottery jurisdictions..................Subscribers

Lottery Commission Withdraws Plans to Launch EZ Match Game
AUSTIN, Texas (October 2, 2009) – According to local media reports the Texas Lottery Commission on Friday decided not to proceed with a  proposed game that would have allowed players to become instant winners by handing their money to a clerk for a ticket printed from a lottery terminal...................Subscribers

The Texas Lottery® Reminds Players to “Sign Your Ticket”
AUSTIN, Texas (September 23, 2009) -- The Texas Lottery® wants to remind all its players to sign the back of their ticket(s). This is an effective safeguard to prevent another person other than the rightful owner of a lottery ticket from claiming a large prize if the ticket is lost or stolen...................Subscribers

Texas Lottery® Sees Increase In Sales And Revenue In FY 09
AUSTIN, Texas (September 15, 2009) – The Texas Lottery® finished out Fiscal Year 2009 by transferring a total of $1.0 billion to the Foundation School Fund to support public education in Texas, an increase of over $17 million from the previous fiscal year......................Subscribers

Texas Lottery's Proposed EZ Match Game Comes Under Fire
AUSTIN, Texas (September 15, 2009) - A proposed lottery game that would allow players to become instant winners without so much as scratching a ticket is under fire from critics who contend it would be a giant step toward slot machines...................Subscribers

Despite Recession, Texas Lottery Sales Are Up From Last Year
AUSTIN, Texas (August 11, 2009) – Texas Lottery sales through the week that ended Saturday totaled $3.4 billion, a $3.1 million (0.1 percent) increase over last year.................Subscribers

Players Showing Absolute Indifference in Watching the Live Draws, Little Wonder Lotteries Are Opting for Less Expensive Animated Drawings
AUSTIN, Texas (August 2, 2009) - The Texas Lottery offers public viewings from its TV studio on Austin's famous Sixth Street, a Bourbon Street-lite in the self-proclaimed Live Music Capital of the World, but according to news sources, people have lost interest in watching the live draws.......................Subscribers

Texas Lottery® and Dallas Cowboys Announce Launch of New Instant Game
AUSTIN, Texas (August 3, 2009) – The Texas Lottery® and the Dallas Cowboys joined together today to announce that August 17 will be the official launch date for the Dallas Cowboys scratch-off ticket from the Texas Lottery......................Subscribers

Texas Lottery® And Houston Texans Enter Into Scratch-Off Ticket Agreement
AUSTIN, Texas (June 16, 2009) – The Texas Lottery® and Houston Texans released details today about a Houston Texans scratch-off game which will coincide with the start of the 2009 NFL football season......................Subscribers

Texans, Texas Lottery Partner For Scratch-Off Game
HOUSTON, Texas (June 15, 2009) --The Texans are reported to have officially partnered with the Texas Lottery. According to news sources they signed their agreement this week, making them the first NFL team in the state with this type of partnership....................Subscribers

Dallas Cowboys Reportedly Close to Lottery Deal
DALLAS, Texas (June 4, 2009) -- The Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans are close to announcing plans for instant-win games through the Texas Lottery..................Subscribers

Former Lottery Employee Charged in Data Theft
AUSTIN, Texas (May 20, 2009) – According to local media reports a former Texas Lottery employee was arrested on Tuesday and charged with illegally “possessing” personal information on 140 lottery winners and employees, including their names and Social Security numbers..................Subscribers

Veterans' Scratch-Off Lottery Game Approved In House
AUSTIN, Texas (May 15, 2009) - According to an article a proposed Texas Lottery scratch-off game designed to raise money for veterans assistance programs squeezed through the House with one minute to spare Thursday night...................Subscribers

New Texas Lottery® Scratch-Off Game Features Half A Billion Dollars In Prizes
AUSTIN, Texas (May 13, 2009) – A new game is coming to Texas, and the word that best describes it is “BIG.” With 10 top prizes of $2.5 million and 40 second-tier prizes of $1 million, the $500,000,000 Blockbuster features more $1 million plus prizes than any other Texas Lottery® scratch-off game ever offered.....................Subscribers

Concerns About Expanding Gambling May Be Stalling Veterans’ Scratch-Off Bill
AUSTIN, Texas (May 5, 2009) -- A proposed lottery scratch-off game designed to raise money for veterans assistance programs appears stalled in the Senate amid concerns that it could constitute an expansion of gambling......................Subscribers

Texas Lottery Ticket Sales Continue To Slide
FORT WORTH, Texas (Apr. 12, 2009) – According to local media reports Texas Lottery Commission records show that so far this fiscal year, which began in September, Texas Lottery sales are down...................Subscribers

New Lottery Game May Aid Texas Veterans
AUSTIN, Texas (April 3, 2009) -- A proposed scratch-off game is advancing through the Legislature with a benevolent purpose -- helping Texas veterans...............Subscribers

Governor Makes Texas Lottery Commission Appointments
AUSTIN, Texas (March 27, 2009) -- Governor Rick Perry has elevated Mary Ann Williamson of Weatherford to..................Subscribers

Senator Files Legislation to Force Texas Lottery Commission to Adopt Set Criteria for Closing Scratch-Off Games
TEXAS (March 5, 2009) -- Texas State Senator Glenn Hegar is reported to have announced that he filed legislation, Senate Bill 1108, to force the Texas Lottery Commission to play by the rules, honor their word, and to practice truth in advertising...................Subscribers

Total Texas Lottery® Transfers To The Foundation School Fund Top $11 Billion
AUSTIN, Texas (February 20, 2009) – With February’s deposit of $75.1 million, Texas Lottery® transfers to the Foundation School Fund (FSF) now total more than $11 billion since 1997................Subscribers

Texas Lottery Survey Results
TEXAS (February 9, 2009) -- According to a study by the University of Houston’s Center for Public Policy and the Texas Lottery Commission the number of Texans who said they had participated in the state lottery in 2008 was...................Subscribers

Audit Report Critical of Lottery Commission's Background Investigation Procedures
FORT WORTH, Texas (January 29, 2009) – According to a local media report auditors have questioned background investigations conducted by the Texas Lottery Commission.. Its claimed the background checks have relied on a “hodgepodge” of outdated techniques that gather too much information, in some cases even................Subscribers

UH Survey Finds Steady Participation in Texas Lottery
HOUSTON, Texas, USA (January 27, 2009) -- Participation in the Texas Lottery games remains steady from last year, according to the latest demographic survey conducted by the University of Houston Center for Public Policy (CPP). Participation rates had been on the................Subscribers

State Lottery to Close Non-Performing Games Early
AUSTIN, Texas (January 17, 2009) – According to local media reports the Texas Lottery Commission is set to cut several poorly performing scratch-off games, even though more than................Subscribers