Retailer Round-Up
January 12, 2024
Remind Players Raffle is Here
The seasonal fan favorite is on sale. With just 250,000 tickets total, Raffle is a player’s best chance to win $1 million!
Raffle DetailsThe Basics
- Ticket cost: $10
- Total tickets: 250,000
- Sales started: Dec 31, 2023
- Sales end: March 13 (or whenever tickets sell out)
- Winners announced: March 15
prizes
- 1,500 winners receive $100
- 300 winners receive $500
- ONE lucky winner receives $1 MILLION!
get in on the excitement
Encourage players to download the free Oregon Lottery app to check their tickets with an easy scan. Results will not be available until after the March 15 announcement.
Oregon Lottery Player Facts
If you’ve wondered about our players’ habits, find some fun facts below on what games are popular and more.
- 54% of Oregonians play Lottery. This is a 3-point increase from last year, fueled by extremely large jackpots for Powerball and Mega Millions.
- Top three games played: Scratch-its, Powerball, and Megabucks
- On average, players in Oregon play three games
- Cross-play continues to be common, especially among players of jackpot games, Video Lottery, and DraftKings. It is less common among Scratch-its players.
Two New Rules Adopted by Lottery Commission
The Lottery Commission approved two rule changes that affect retailers. Both changes went into effect on December 1, 2023.
The first change prohibits retailers and their employees from purchasing winning tickets or cash slips from players. This is a practice sometimes referred to as “discounting,” in which a winner sells their winning ticket for less than its full prize value. This is a questionable practice and Lottery would prefer that retailers did not facilitate these transactions.
The second change prohibits retailers from using the word “Lottery” in the retailer’s assumed business name. You can read the rules in our recent update here. Thanks to the retailers who commented on these changes during the public comment period. If you have questions, please contact your account manager.
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month
March marks over 20 years of working to help increase public awareness and help people take the first steps towards making a change to their gambling. While the Oregon Lottery is committed to supporting responsible gaming and problem gambling year-round, each March we highlight this important work.
Did you know that counseling services in Oregon are available to anyone impacted by their own or someone else’s gambling? Anyone can call, chat or text with a trained gambling counselor and best of all, help is FREE and confidential. As a retailer, if you or someone you know wants to make a change to their gambling, visit OPGR.org or call 1-877-MYLIMIT.
Best Practices
don’t engage in sports betting pools
With the Super Bowl game coming up in February, the Oregon Lottery wants to remind you that sports betting pools could cost you your contract. Sports betting such as football pools, March Madness brackets and NASCAR pools are illegal in the state of Oregon.
While they might be fun, participation in such pools could result in unlawful gambling charges for both you and your customers. In addition, participation in such pools could put your Oregon Lottery retailer status in jeopardy. Please refrain from taking part in these pools in order to maintain positive business practices.
closure notification
Does your retail location need to close for five or more days? If so, Section 7.5 of the retailer contract (Notice of Unusual Closure of Premises) requires that you notify Oregon Lottery at least 14 days in advance of any unusual closure. This might include a vacation, remodeling, repairs, or emergencies.
If it is reported that the location has not had Video Lottery Terminal play for more than five days, and we have not received a notification of a closure or other issues, we will contact the retailer to learn the reason for no activity. If it is determined the notification didn’t occur to meet the requirement, a contract compliance letter may be sent as a reminder. Continued violations of this type may result in removal of Lottery equipment and a termination of the retailer contract.
Meet Oregon’s Teacher of the Year
Since 2016, Oregon Lottery has supported the Oregon Teacher of the Year program, which is done in partnership with the Oregon Department of Education. Meet this year’s Oregon Teacher of the Year: Dr. Mandy Vance, a teacher at Cedar Ridge Middle School in the Oregon Trail School District in Sandy. Her inclusive, engaging, and transformative teaching builds long-lasting relationships with students and families in rural communities.
Learn more about Vance and the 16 other teachers who earned Regional Teacher of the Year or nominate a teacher at the Oregon Teacher of the Year website.
every non-winning ticket has a second chance
Remember to return non-winning Scratch-its to players. Players may not be aware that Scratch-its come with a Second Chance to win, which makes it a great selling point to mention.
Reminding players to enter their non-winning tickets can turn an average customer experience into a better one. Encourage players to enter Second Chance drawings through the Oregon Lottery mobile app. Once they’ve downloaded the app and registered, it’s as easy as scanning a ticket.
Get more information on Second Chance and keep up with drawing dates on the Second Chance page.
network upgrades
Starting in April, we will be updating our network connections statewide to provide better bandwidth and connectivity for your Lottery equipment.
With a project of this size, we anticipate the roll-out may take up to two years. We will be in contact with you individually well before it is your time to receive upgrades. At this time, we are still in the planning phase and developing schedules. Your account manager will be providing you more information in the coming months.
Questions?
Contact your Account Manager or our customer service team at 1-800-766-6789
