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Press Room

WASHINGTON’S LOTTERY CELEBRATES 35TH ANNIVERSARY, MARKING MORE THAN THREE DECADES OF INSPIRING WASHINGTON’S IMAGINATION

Washington’s Lottery is celebrating 35 years of inspiring Washington’s imagination. In recognition of this milestone, Washington’s Lottery is celebrating with a special home state Lotto promotion. Players who purchase a $5 Lotto ticket through November 14, 2017 will receive a special 35th anniversary web code for a second chance drawing and an opportunity to win $35,000. Additional second chance prizes include $3,500 (10 winners) and $350 (35 winners). The drawing will take place on November 15, 2017 – exactly 35 years since the first Lottery ticket was sold in the state.

When Washington’s Lottery was first created in 1982, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jim Zorn was throwing touchdown passes to Steve Largent in the Kingdome, a team of 12-year-olds from Kirkland won the Little League World Series, and international heavy metal bands were playing to sellout audiences at the Spokane Coliseum. Much has changed since then, but more than three decades later, Washington’s Lottery is still providing people with innovative, fun games and generating revenue to benefit people and communities across the state.

“Since 1982, Washington’s Lottery has paid more than $8.4 billion in prizes to winners across the state and retailers have made $856.2 million in sales commissions,” said Kathi Patnode, Marketing Operations Manager for Washington’s Lottery. “In addition to that, we’ve generated more than $3 billion to support important state programs such as the Washington Opportunity Pathways Account, helping students achieve their higher education dreams. Those numbers are something to celebrate and we look forward to many more years serving the people of Washington.”

Gov. John Spellman signed House Bill No. 1251 on July 16, 1982. The first Lottery game sold was a $1 “Pot of Gold” Scratch ticket with a $1 million top prize. Today, Scratch remains the most popular Lottery game and players can choose from dozens of new games introduced every year. Additionally, there are seven different draw games; Powerball, Mega Millions, Lotto, Hit 5, Match 4, Daily Game and Daily Keno. Washington’s Lottery products are sold at more than 3,636 retailers across the state.

Today, proceeds from Washington’s Lottery benefit the Washington Opportunity Pathways Account, providing grants to college students statewide. To learn more about Washington’s Lottery, its beneficiaries and to review all up-to-date winning numbers, please visit www.walottery.com.

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WASHINGTON’S LOTTERY: Washington’s Lottery is celebrating 35 years inspiring Washington’s imagination. Since 1982, Washington’s Lottery has generated more than $3 billion to support important state programs including the Washington Opportunity Pathways Account. Money in the Pathways Account goes toward helping students achieve their higher education dreams and supports early childhood education learning programs. The state’s Lottery offers consumers several types of games: Mega Millions, Powerball, Lotto, Hit 5, Match 4, Daily Game, Daily Keno and Scratch. For more information, visit www.walottery.com or join our online community on Facebook at www.facebook.com/walottery and follow us on Twitter @walottery and Instagram @walottery

Press Contact
Stephanie Kirk (Curator on behalf of Washington’s Lottery)
E-mail: stephanie.kirk@curatorpr.com