Division of Lottery
Division Administrator: Michael J. Edmonds
Telephone: (608) 261-8800
FAX: (608) 264-6644
2135 Rimrock Road, P.O. Box 8941
Madison, WI 53708-8941
The mission of the Wisconsin Lottery is to achieve the greatest possible property tax relief for Wisconsin taxpayers, with unquestioned integrity. To that end, the Lottery manages six terminal-generated games and as many as 35 different scratch games and seven different pull-tab games from which a player can choose. The Lottery maintains approximately 83 full-time positions in Madison, WI. The Madison office is the operational headquarters, and houses the Administration Bureau, Retailer Relations Bureau, Product Development Bureau, and the Operations Bureau. Also located in Madison is the Lottery's warehouse and delivery service facility. There are five Department of Revenue (DOR) district offices around the state that also serve as winner redemption centers for player convenience, which can be located by contacting the Operations Bureau below.
During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, Wisconsin Lottery players won more than $290.8 million dollars in prizes. The state received an estimated $159 million in property tax relief from the Lottery fund. Did you know that an estimated 95 cents of every sales dollar earned by the Lottery goes directly back into the economy of Wisconsin?
For current jackpots and game numbers, lottery players may call our Player Hotline at (608) 266-7777. This is an interactive voice response system that provides information to the general public, members of the media, and others interested in current lottery information.
The Wisconsin Lottery has its own web site at http://www.wilottery.com/, which will include the most recent winning numbers, game odds, latest instant scratch tickets and odds, drawing results from previous drawings for all the online games and some information about some recent winners. Powerball information is also available on the Internet at http//www.powerball.com
Administrative Services Bureau
The Administrative Services Bureau provides functional support to the Lottery Division. The bureau maintains contract procurement and payment, budget, strategic planning and payroll functions for employees. Also, Information technology and webmaster support services are provided, to strengthen the Lottery's ability to communicate with the players and retailers. Retailer accounts receivable and prize payment activities are also supported within this bureau.
Bureau Director: Rich Grade
Telephone: (608) 264-6651
FAX: (608) 267-4565
2135 Rimrock Road, P.O. Box 8941
Madison, WI 53708-8941
Operations Bureau
The Operations Bureau provides internal business operations and administrative communications support services for the Lottery Division. Internal operations activities such as stock inventory and warehousing are provided for the division. Other activities include nightly drawings for the Lottery's terminal-generated games, player relations and special events services.
Bureau Director: Andrew Bohage
Telephone: (608) 264-6604
FAX: (608) 267-4565
2135 Rimrock Road, P.O. Box 8941
Madison, WI 53708-8941
Product Development Bureau
The Product Development Bureau provides product development and marketing services for the Lottery Division. Marketing activities such as instant and terminal generated game research and development, retailer related research as well as public information planning and development.
Bureau Director: Saverio Maglio
Telephone: (608) 267-4817
FAX: (608) 264-6644
2135 Rimrock Road, P.O. Box 8941
Madison, WI 53708-8941
Retailer Relations Bureau
The Retailer Relations Bureau develops and implements the Lottery's sales programs. The Bureau provides sales support to retailers through Field Marketing Representatives and through Field Trainers. Key Accounts management and the telemarketing of tickets to our retailers are additional services provided to retailers by the Bureau. Lottery retailer contracts are administered through the Retailer Relations Bureau as well as retailer recruitment and retention activities.
Bureau Director: Bob Hayd
Telephone: (608) 267-7180
FAX: (608) 264-6644
2135 Rimrock Road, P.O. Box 8941
Madison, WI 53708-8941
Sales and Revenue Distribution
Below is a chart summarizing the last five (5) fiscal years in sales.
| LOTTERY GROSS SALES | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2002-2003 | FY 2003-2004 | FY 2004-2005 | FY 2005-2006 | FY 2006-2007 | ||
| Instant Sales | $249,467,428 | $270,286,747 | $269,904,836 | $285,609,915 | $283,922,527 | |
| Online Sales | $185,570,386 | $212,633,592 | $181,967,204 | $223,299,704 | $208,646,885 | |
| Total Sales | $435,037,814 | $482,920,339 | $451,872,040 | $508,909,619 | $492,569,411 | |
The majority of lottery proceeds are distributed as prizes to players, as shown in the following graph that reflects the distribution of FY 1989-2002 lottery proceeds. On average, 33 percent of revenues is distributed for property tax relief.
| Estimated Distribution of Lottery Proceeds FY89-FY07 | |
|---|---|
| Prize Expense to Players | 56.26% |
| Proceeds Available for Property Tax Relief | 31.46% |
| Retailer Commission | 5.70% |
| Computer System and Administrative Expenses | 6.58% |
The following identifies the amount available for state distribution since the inception of the Lottery.
| Amount Available for State Distribution | |
|---|---|
| FY | Amount |
| 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Total |
$89,969,387 114,074,977 128,955,791 150,218,929 159,481,609 166,176,354 163,985,627 151,720,366 136,752,653 130,122,761 140,082,500 216,255,158 114,550,680 118,993,392 122,630,978 132,371,845 132,106,682 152,570,292 145,276,800 $2,521,019,781 |
Lottery Tax Credit
As a result of a 1992 Dane County Circuit Court decision, the Legislature created the Lottery Tax Credit program to distribute Lottery proceeds directly to property taxpayers through the Lottery Tax Credit and the Farmland Tax Relief Credit beginning in FY 1991-92. Previously, the proceeds had been used to increase general school aids, fund local district attorney salary costs and provide the Farmland Tax Relief Credit.
On October 31, 1996, the Dane County Circuit Court ruled that the Lottery Tax Credit, which goes only to owners of a "principal dwelling" in Wisconsin, was unconstitutional because it violated the uniformity clause of the State Constitution. Therefore, the 1996 and 1997 credits were combined and distributed as per Legislative directive to comply with the 1996 court ruling. The following identifies the average Lottery Tax Credit to homeowners since the inception of the program.
| Year | Tax Credit |
|---|---|
| 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 |
$144 $168 $108 $112 $126 $0 $80 $47 $102 $167 $67 $76 $83 $93 $83 $97 $86 |
Cashing Winning Tickets
Tickets with prize values of less than $600 may be redeemed at the Wisconsin Lottery Offices, Lottery Redemption Centers, or any online retailer. Prizes of $600 or more may be redeemed at either the Lottery Offices, or Redemption Centers (see list below). To comply with state and federal requirements, lottery prizes exceeding $2,000 are subject to income tax withholding. For some online games, the jackpots are paid in the form annual installments. Winning tickets must be redeemed within 180 days of the draw, or 180 days from the end of the game.
Location of Lottery Offices and Lottery Redemption Centers
The following Lottery Redemption Center is authorized to cash winning tickets up through $500,000:
Milwaukee
Department of Revenue
819 N. 6th Street, Room 570
Milwaukee, WI 53203-1682
(414) 227-3882
All jackpot prizes above $500,000 must be redeemed in:
Madison
2135 Rimrock Road
Madison, WI 53713
(608) 266-7777
All offices are normally open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM. to 4:00 PM, except on state holidays. Citizens are strongly encouraged to call the center, to ensure that it will be open when they need it.
Retailers
Tickets are sold by retailers that contract with the Wisconsin Lottery. Retailers can only sell lottery tickets for cash and at the price established by the Wisconsin Lottery. Tickets can only be sold to persons at least 18 years of age, but minors may receive lottery tickets as gifts. Retailers receive a basic commission of 6.25 percent for instant scratch tickets and pull-tab tickets, and 5.5 percent for online products. In addition, nonprofit organizations may apply to sell pull-tab tickets and receive a substantially higher commission rate. Currently there are about 4,100 retail outlets throughout the state, including convenience stores, grocery stores, service stations, restaurants, liquor stores, and nonprofit organizations.
Games
The first instant tickets were offered in September 1988 and the first online tickets were sold in August 1989.
Select one of the links below to take you directly to the Lottery's web site, where you may view more detailed information about each game.
| Daily Pick 3 | Daily Pick 4 | Instant Games | Badger 5 |
| Megabucks | Powerball | SuperCash! |
Game Drawings
The Wisconsin Lottery conducts drawings every night for the terminal-generated (online) games Pick 3, Pick 4, SuperCash! and Badger 5. Every Wednesday and Saturday, drawings are conducted for Wisconsin's Very Own Megabucks and the multi-state jackpot game Powerball. Drawing results are made immediately available for use by the media and on the Lottery's web site, www.wilottery.com.
The Lottery also holds a weekly "SuperSecond Chance" drawing, which a player may enter by mailing $5 worth of non-winning tickets to the Lottery. Each week, ten eligible winners receive a "second chance" prize of $1,000. Players may enter as often as they wish and each entry is eligible for one drawing.
Last updated January 2, 2008