Maine Lottery

The government of Maine runs the state lottery. The state of Maine is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), where the Powerball is the flagship game.

When Maine joined the MUSL in 1990, the Powerball games was not offered. However, when Powerball was introduced in 1992, Maine left the association and did not rejoin the group until 2004. It is important to note that the drawings for the Powerball were relocated to Florida, even though Iowa still remains the MUSL headquarters.

Beginning October 11, 2009, the State of Maine will make available the MUSL's smaller jackpot game called Hot Lotto. This game will be Maine's first continuing draw game that has its winning numbers drawn using a Random Number Generator (RNG) rather than the traditional lottery ball system.

The State of Maine also has various online games that were created in the Northern most states of New England and are drawn in New Hampshire. Lottery players can also purchase scratch off tickets at various retailers.

The State of Maine has a strict minimum age to play the lottery which is eighteen (18).

General Information

The idea of a state lottery was started by Rep. Arthur Genest of Waterville in 1973 when he sponsored the first bill introducing the lottery. The lottery was later approved in 1973 when the public voted with a fervent "yes" and the lottery began promptly in 1974.

The 1974 governor, Kenneth M. Curtis, made the ceremonial lottery number drawing on June 27, 1974. Large rubber balls with printed numbers and a gumball machine were used to draw the winning numbers. Ivan Lazure, a Lewiston mechanic, was the first winner of the Maine lottery claiming a jackpot of .

Lottery History

June 1974

• "Play Me" – a weekly drawing where tickets cost 50-cents each.
• June 27, 1974 – the first drawing was held.
• "Great Outdoors" – the first scratch off ticket is sold.
• "Downeast Sweepstakes" – the new name for the weekly games called "Play Me"

September 1985

• A Saturday drawing called the Tri-State Megabucks begins with a pick of 6-of-30 matrix.
• September 14, 1985 – This is the first Tri-State Megabucks winner, where Richard Campbell of South Portland, Me won 5,919.

May 1990

• A Wednesday drawing of the Tri-State Megabucks is added.

July 1990

• A new lottery game called Lotto America begins a Wednesday and Saturday drawings that have a pick matrix of 6-of-54.

April 1992

• Maine removes themselves from Lotto America as a result of low sales.
• A new game called Tri-State Cash 5 begins with a Tuesday drawing that features a 5-of-35 pick matrix.

February 2002

• A new Tri-State cash game begins in Maine called "Cash Lotto"
• The Tri-State cash game "WinCash" ends.

January 2007

• The Tri-State games replace the "Triple Play" with the "Paycheck" game.

November 2007

• A new game called the New Year Millionaire Raffle goes on sale for a ticket.

April 2008

• The Instant Winner drawing for the ,250,000 Extravaganza is held.