The History of the Florida State Lottery

About the Florida state operated Lotto

The History of the Florida State Lottery

The Florida Lottery was created in 1986 with a constitutional amendment passed by a two-to-one margin. Voters gave their approval to create a lottery that used all its proceeds to enhance public education in Florida. Governor Bob Martinez and the Florida Legislature established just such an education Lottery and dedicated it to “maximize revenues to education to allow the people of Florida to benefit from significant additional moneys while providing the best Lottery games available.”

Driven by the legislative mandate for tickets to go on sale by January 18, 1988, the Lottery’s “start-up” was a year of dynamic activity: On July 16, 1987, former Governor Bob Martinez appointed Rebecca Paul the Lottery’s first permanent Secretary; employees were hired; vendors for On-line and Scratch-Off games were contracted; retailers were recruited, and trained; tickets dispensers and lottery terminals were installed at Florida Lottery retail locations throughout the state.

On January 12, 1988, Florida Lottery ticket sales began six days ahead of schedule with the launch of the Lottery’s first Scratch-Off game, “MILLIONAIRE.” The $1 game was an instant hit. In its first week, the game exceeded $95 million in sales, and the Florida Lottery set a Lottery industry record. As a result of the success of “MILLIONAIRE,” the Lottery was able to repay the original startup money borrowed from the state’s General Revenue Fund, $15.5 million plus interest on January 29, 1988, 17 days after startup.

Lottery fever swept across Florida and the public eagerly embraced the Florida Lottery as it achieved many “firsts” in its debut year. Players snapped up the new games and made many of them perennial favorites, even today. The first On-line games, FLORIDA LOTTO and CASH 3 , were introduced on April 29, 1988. Beginning with a guaranteed $2 million jackpot, FLORIDA LOTTO rolled over until May 31, 1988 when its first jackpot winner Josie Moore of Port Charlotte won $14 million. Moore was paid in 20 annual installments. On August 31, 1988 the Florida Lottery had emerged as an industry leader when the Lottery set a then industry record with an estimated $52 million FLORIDA LOTTO jackpot. 1988 was a good year for Florida Lottery FLORIDA LOTTO jackpot winners. On September 3, 1988 Sheelah Ryan, of Winter Springs, won a $55.6 million FLORIDA LOTTO jackpot, the largest Florida Lottery prize to be won by single winner at that time.

After a fast-paced inaugural year, the Florida Lottery continued to develop as it responded to its growing playership. On April 28, 1989 the Lottery launched its third On-Line game FANTASY 5®. Drawings were to be held twice a week on Tuesday and Fridays.

On January 8, 1991, the late Governor Lawton Chiles appointed Dr. Marcia Mann the Florida Lottery’s second permanent secretary. Later in the year on July 4, the Lottery celebrated Independence Day with the launch of if fourth On-line game PLAY 4 , with a top prize payout of $5,000.

Scratch-Off lottery games continued to offer players a myriad of themes with instant prizes and payouts. The Scratch-Off games achieved a milestone on September 27, 1993 with the sale of BINGO, the Florida Lottery’s first $2 ticket. The Lottery’s first $5 ticket, TWELVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE, went on sale in 1998, the first $10 ticket, CASH BONANZA, in 2002 and the first $20 ticket GOLD RUSH in 2004. Prize payouts for Scratch-Off games also increased to as much as $1 million, when such games as WIN FOR LIFE and $1,000,000 CASH SPECTACULAR premiered in 2003. The games delivered what had been promised…“more and bigger” prizes.

Under the leadership of Governor Jeb Bush three talented individuals have served as the secretary of the Lottery. On January 11, 1999 Governor Bush appointed Miami lawyer Sue Cobb to serve as interim secretary of the Lottery and on June 17, of the same year he appointed David Griffin to serve as the third permanent secretary of the agency. On March 5, 2003 Governor Bush appointed Rebecca Dirden Mattingly the Florida Lottery’s fourth permanent secretary. Under the leadership of Griffin and Mattingly the Lottery transferred more than $1 billion to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund in a single year. Griffin accomplished this feat during the 2002-03 fiscal year and Mattingly during the 2003-04 fiscal year. To date, the Florida Lottery has contributed more than $14 billion for public schools in Florida.

The last of the Lottery’s five On-line games, MEGA MONEY , launched February 2, 1998 on a trial basis and was later made a permanent addition to the On-line menu of games. As the Florida Lottery has continued to mature and develop, new and innovative convenience features have been added to meet the needs of players. Quick Pick, an option allowing a player to have their numbers randomly selected, became a value-added feature in April 1990 and in 1993 the Advanced Play option that allows players to purchase On-line games for future drawings was introduced. The games themselves have also evolved over the years. In 1994, FANTASY 5 drawings expanded to five nights a week and FLORIDA LOTTO went from once a week drawings to twice a week drawings in 1999, when its matrix changed from six out of 49 numbers to six out of 53, creating bigger jackpots more often.

Conversion to a new On-line gaming system began in August 2003 with GTECH Corporation winning the bid to install and operate the Florida Lottery’s gaming system. GTECH's winning bid was 1.14 percent of On-line sales, compared to 1.8 percent in the contract with Automated Wagering, the Lottery’s previous vendor. The new six-year contract could result in an $11 million annual savings for the state.

Exciting changes were made to the Florida Lottery’s MEGA MONEY game on January 30, 2004. The new game increased the starting jackpot to $500,000, climbing to $2 million. The changes in the MEGA MONEY matrix offered better odds for players who would now choose four out of 44 numbers on the first panel, and choose one out of 22 numbers for the MEGA BALL panel. A new rolldown feature increased all secondary prize levels, including the addition of two new prize levels, and players would now win a free Quick Pick ticket for matching just the MEGABALL. Along with giving players more opportunities to win, the Advance Play feature was increased to 30 draws for player convenience.

January 31, 2005, the Florida Lottery and GTECH Corporation launched the most successful gaming system conversion in lottery history. The GTECH Enterprise Series System provided nearly 12,000 retailers with a state-of-the-art On-line gaming system and provided Florida Lottery players with one of the most reliable and secure gaming systems in the world. The new On-line gaming system was composed of wireless data links to the Florida Lottery’s processing center and allowed for much faster transactions and less down time for each retailer. The new Altura terminals featured large touch-screens, help modes, and thermal printers. Other new features that the On-line gaming system provided were colorful and informative Bi-Lingual LED messaging for Lottery products. On that very same day of the historic conversion, the Florida Lottery introduce a new playstyle called GROUPER . With GROUPER players receive six tickets, CASH 3, PLAY 4, FANTASY 5, MEGA MONEY, FLORIDA LOTTO and one FREE FANTASY 5, MEGA MONEY or FLORIDA LOTTO ticket — all for $5. All tickets in GROUPER play are Quick Picks for the next available draw.

April 2005, the Florida Lottery surpassed the 12,000 mark in full-service retailers in operation throughout the state.

On November 21, 2005, Florida Lottery launched the "Cash for the Holidays" promotion. Players who purchased a FLORIDA LOTTO, MEGA MONEY or FANTASY 5® ticket of $5 or more had a chance to instantly win $1,000, $100, $50 or $25. The promotion combined On-line games with an instant bonus players won when they purchased tickets and heard the promotion theme music on the Florida Lottery terminals. An estimated total of 900,000 players were entered into a special New Year's Eve Drawing. One lucky player won $1 million and 10 players were selected to receive $1,000 each.

Currently, Florida Lottery players have numerous entertainment options, offering something for every player. At nearly 12, 000 retailers across Florida, players typically have between 30 and 50 Scratch-Off games of various themes to choose from at any given time. Players can also choose to play the Lottery’s five On-line games that offer players 25 drawings, and 25 chances to win, each week.

Since creation the Florida Lottery has provided great dividends to the residents of Florida and promises to continue to do so into the future. The Lottery has given residents a reason to believe their dreams will come true. Whether they are one of thousands of people who have collected lottery prizes or one of the thousands who Lottery dollars help to follow their dreams by getting a better education, all Floridians residents enjoy and benefit from the Florida Lottery.