Ohio Lottery Commission

History

The Ohio Lottery Commission was created by voter approval of State Issue 1 in 1973, with the first game, Buckeye 300, launching in 1974. Initially based in Columbus, the operational headquarters soon moved to Cleveland. A 1987 constitutional amendment permanently earmarked lottery profits for education. Over the years, the Commission introduced innovations: the Cash Explosion TV show in 1987, midday drawings in 1999, the Partners in Education program in 2007, and digital services like the mobile app and EZPLAY electronic tickets in 2008. The agency has consistently adapted to market trends, joining Mega Millions in 2002 and Powerball thereafter.

Business Model & Revenue

The Ohio Lottery operates under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3770 with the primary objective of maximizing net profits for the Lottery Profits Education Fund. It is entirely self-funded through ticket sales and receives no tax-dollar appropriations. In FY2025, operating expenses were roughly $447 million, including prize payouts, retailer commissions (5.5% of sales plus prize-cashing fees), and administrative costs. The agency employs approximately 225 staff and maintains a retailer network with average annual commissions of $15,000 per outlet. Revenue is generated from a mix of instant games (scratch-offs), draw games, keno, and multi-state jackpots. Scratch-off tickets, produced under a 10-year partnership with Scientific Games (renewed in 2025), account for the largest share of sales.

Products & Platforms

The Ohio Lottery offers a broad portfolio of games. Classic Lotto is a 6-of-49 draw game with jackpots starting at $1 million. Rolling Cash 5 is a daily 5/39 game with rolling jackpots starting at $100,000. Ten-OH! lets players pick 10 numbers from 80, with 20 drawn and prizes for matching 0 to 10 numbers. Keno is sold at bars and taverns, offering up to $100,000 on a $1 bet. Daily fixed-odds games include Pick 3, Pick 4, and Pick 5. The Commission also participates in the multi-state Mega Millions (since 2002) and Powerball. EZPLAY are instant-print electronic tickets available at retail terminals. Physical scratch-off tickets remain the top seller. The weekly Cash Explosion TV show has aired since 1987. The Ohio Lottery Mobile App enables ticket scanning, prize claiming, and reward account management. The WellPlayed Ohio platform provides responsible-gaming education and player-control tools. The Partners in Education program recognizes outstanding students and teachers. The agency’s modernized website and mobile services adhere to WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards.

Leadership & Governance

The Ohio Lottery is governed by a nine-member advisory Commission appointed by the Governor, with monthly meetings. The Chairman is Matthew John Blair, Jr., reappointed for a term ending August 1, 2027. Operational authority rests with the Director, Michelle B. Gillcrist, appointed by Governor Mike DeWine in May 2023 (initially interim in April 2023). She previously served as the Governor’s Northern Ohio Regional Liaison. The Assistant Director is Nicole Kostura, who joined the Lottery in January 2017 after serving as Governor John Kasich’s Northeast Ohio Regional Liaison. Key deputies include Thomas Ackerman (Deputy Director, Office of Marketing) since December 2022, Elizabeth Alex (Deputy Director, Office of Human Resources) since February 2010, and Gregory Beyer and Raymond C. Durant (both Deputy Directors, portfolios not specified). The Commission does not use private-sector titles such as CEO or CTO.

Market Position & Recent Developments

As a state monopoly, the Ohio Lottery operates without direct private-sector competition within Ohio’s legal lottery market. Its primary rival is illegal gambling and bordering state lotteries. The agency has focused on digital transformation, launching a mobile app and the WellPlayed Ohio responsible-gaming platform. In 2025, Scientific Games renewed its contract as the primary scratch-off partner for another 10 years. The Commission continues to emphasize retailer recruitment and has maintained stable annual transfers to education, with FY2026-FY2027 biennium estimates of nearly $2.9 billion. Notable legislative and regulatory oversight ensures compliance with Ohio law and problem-gambling safeguards.