Wyoming Lottery Corporation CEO, Jon Clontz, reported a solid first year with 577,236 winners raking in a total of $5.2 million, retailers in the state bringing in over $1 million in retailer commissions, and ticket sales picking up with the addition of Wyoming’s own Cowboy Draw™ game.
The Wyoming Lottery launched its first sales on August 24, 2014 with only two national games, Mega Millions® and Powerball®. In 2013, the Wyoming Legislature passed legislation authorizing the start of a state lottery but did not designate any state funding for it.
“Thanks to the tremendous support of Wyoming residents and retailers, we’ve come a long way in our first year of sales,” said Clontz. “I’m very proud of what the staff, board, and our partners have accomplished so far without state funding and look forward to an even stronger second year.”
Since August 2014, all ticket sales have brought in $20 million. With residents so excited to buy the first Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, initial lottery sales skyrocketed with $198,612 in sales the very first day. Wanting to give WyoLotto players better odds to win a jackpot, the Wyoming Lottery Corporation launched a Wyoming-only game, Cowboy Draw, on March 15. Since the game’s launch, four lucky Wyoming players have hit jackpots of $628,630, $286,226, $277,988, and $360,000, and more than 350 players have won $1,000 each. Total winnings for just Cowboy Draw have reached over an estimated $2.9 million.
“Tickets sales have been steady, helping us pay off our loan, which will allow us to start revenue transfer to the state,” Clontz emphasized. “We are right on track to pay off the loan and at a minimum revenue transfer will begin in 2016.”
Clontz pointed out that WyoLotto has already been contributing to the state’s economy through retailer commissions and sponsorship of Cheyenne Frontier Days, the Wyoming State Fair, and the University of Wyoming Athletics as part of efforts to support the Wyoming community and to align with highly-attended entertainment events to promote ticket sales.
Today, WyoLotto has partnered with over 441 retailers across the state to sell lottery tickets, and has paid retailers a total of $1 million in commissions. Retailers in Uinta County sold the majority of lottery tickets in the first year, followed by Natrona, Laramie, and Sweetwater counties.
To hear audio clips from an interview with Wyoming Lottery Corporation CEO, Jon Clontz, please visit the Wyoming Lottery Media Kit page.
| Total Sales Per County | |
| Albany County | $624,527 |
| Big Horn County | $194,327 |
| Campbell County | $1,727,021 |
| Carbon County | $774,765 |
| Converse County | $665,611 |
| Crook County | $196,544 |
| Fremont County | $988,924 |
| Goshen County | $311,327 |
| Hot Springs County | $160,837 |
| Johnson County | $268,237 |
| Laramie County | $2,852,797 |
| Lincoln County | $533,811 |
| Natrona County | $3,035,430 |
| Niobrara County | $78,352 |
| Park County | $598,107 |
| Platte County | $377,517 |
| Sheridan County | $858,762 |
| Sublette County | $356,860 |
| Sweetwater County | $2,185,712 |
| Teton County | $508,391 |
| Uinta County | $3,361,987 |
| Washakie County | $207,556 |
| Weston County | $237,399 |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Robin Reining • Wyoming Lottery Corporation
Phone: 307-459-0583 • robin@warehousetwentyone.com