LOTTERY SALES REACH NEW HIGH IN 2009

ST. PAUL – State Rep. Dean Urdahl, R-Grove City, announced gross sales from Minnesota State Lottery were a record $481 million in fiscal year 2009. House District 18B sales totaled $4.4 million that year. “The lottery is one rare area that has experienced growth at a time the rest of our economy has declined,” Urdahl said. “It's interesting that lottery revenue hasn't sagged, yet the rest of the economy is struggling.” In 2009, sales of scratch-off tickets in District 18B – covering most of Meeker County and the western portion of Wright – exceeded $3.4 million. Lotto games accounted for nearly $1 million. The 32 businesses in the district that sell lottery tickets earned more than $268,000 in commissions and incentives. From its 1990 inception through the end of 2009, sales in District 18B add up to nearly $61 million. A total of $46 million were scratch tickets, while $15 million came from lotto games such as Powerball. Retailers in District 18B have earned $3.7 million in commissions and incentives since the lottery began. The lottery is celebrating its 20th anniversary and its players have contributed more than $1.8 billion to state programs, including the General Fund, the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund and others. The record state sales meant $120 million was returned to state programs. These sales resulted in estimated contributions of $4.1 million to the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund and $8.8 million to the General Fund. The Game and Fish Fund and Natural Resources Fund each received more than $852,000. A chart showing exactly how the lottery revenue was appropriated can be found online at www.lottery.state.mn.us/moneygo.html. -30- Dean Urdahl represents District 18B in the Minnesota House of Representatives. The district includes most of Meeker County and a portion of Wright County. This is Urdahl’s fourth term in the Legislature after being elected in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008.