Vermont Lottery

The Vermont Lottery began fiscal operations as an enterprise fund in October 1977, following a 1976 referendum, and the enactment of Public Act No. 82 by the 1977 General Assembly. It is run by the Vermont Lottery Commission, which is headquartered in Berlin, Vermont. Along with Maine and New Hampshire, Vermont is a member of the Tri-State Lottery.

In 2003, the Vermont Lottery added Powerball, which began in 1992. Jackpots begin at $40 million; the game is drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The Vermont Lottery has yet to produce a jackpot-winning ticket for either Mega Millions or Powerball.

In 2009, the Connecticut Lottery began an in-house game, Lucky4Lífe, which expanded throughout New England on March 11, 2012. (Its drawings remain in Connecticut.) The top prize is $1,000-per-day for life; multiple winners split the prize.

On September 17, 2013, Lucky for Life was revamped; changes include a $25,000-per-year second prize. Winners of either annuitized prize level are allowed to choose cash in lieu of the lifetime annuity, unlike the top prize in the previous versions.

In January 2015, Lucky for Life is expected to become a "national" game, with up to 17 members, one more than in Hot Lotto. A larger second prize is planned.

Megabucks Plus replaced Megabucks in July 2009; it also uses a 5+1 double matrix. The game draws 5 of 41 balls, plus a megaball from 1 through 6. Games cost $2; minimum jackpot is $1,000,000. Drawings are Wednesdays and Saturdays.

A new format for Megabucks Plus is expected to be unveiled in 2013. The game is expected to change its name, and, as with Hot Lotto, become all-cash.

On May 12, 2013, the day of the Hot Lotto format change, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont will debut Gimme5, which will have a top prize of $100,000 cash, to be split if there are multiple winners. Drawings will be Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.