Sales began for the Pick 3™ add-on feature Sum It Up™. The first Pick 3 drawing to include Sum It Up was held on November 12.

Texas Lottery ticket sales at the State Fair of Texas totaled more than $587,000 (unaudited), a new record for that event.

 April 25

March 30 

March 6 

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 December 29

 September 1

April 27

Three Texas Two Step tickets match all four numbers drawn plus the bonus ball for a record-setting estimated jackpot of $2.9 million.

April 26

A Legend Returns! Lotto Texas returns to a straight 6-of-54 matrix with overall odds of winning of 1 in 71. The new matrix replaces the previous 5-of-44 plus 1-of-44 bonus ball game.

February 9

Transfers from the Texas Lottery Commission to the Foundation School Fund, which supports public education in Texas, top $8 billion. As of February 3, 2006, the exact amount transferred to the fund is $8,034,186,919.

January 13

Anthony J. Sadberry is named Acting Executive Director of the Texas Lottery Commission.

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December 5

The Charitable Bingo Operations Division placed its 60th interactive licensing form on the bingo website for use by the general public and licensees. Interactive forms allow the user to complete forms electronically.

November 9

Charitable distributions from bingo total more than $796,000,000 since 1982 to the end of the 3rd quarter 2005 (unaudited figures).

September 1

Bingo Services Center and Bingo Hall Locator service go live on the Charitable Bingo Operations Division website to provide licensees and the general public with a wide variety of bingo related information and a bingo hall locator service with robust search capabilities.

August 31

Fiscal Year 2005 ends. This marks the second consecutive year the Texas Lottery has transferred more than $1 billion back to the state to support public education. Unaudited sales figures of all products total more than $3.6 billion, an increase of five percent over FY 04.

August 11

Larry L. Walcott of Arlington becomes the first Texas Mega Millions player to claim a $1 million second-tier prize for matching five of five numbers and purchasing the Megaplier option.

July 11

Gary Grief is named Acting Executive Director of the Texas Lottery Commission.

June 22

New Mega Millions rules go into effect as California joins the game. The second-tier prize increases to $250,000, and the third-tier prize rises to $10,000. Texas Mega Millions players who Megaply now have the chance to win up to $1 million without hitting the jackpot.

May 10

The three-member board of the Texas Lottery Commission unanimously voted to adopt proposed rule amendments to the Mega Millions game, with a planned start date for the changes effective June 22, 2005. This action follows an announcement that California plans to become the 12th member state to join the game.

April 29

John M. Kamali, owner of Dalrock Grocery in Rowlett, received a $1 million check from Texas Lottery Commission Executive Director Reagan E. Greer for selling the $112 million jackpot winning ticket for the March 1 Mega Millions drawing. Kamali is just the second retailer to receive the maximum bonus amount for selling a Mega Millions jackpot-winning ticket.

March 11

MAL HOLDINGS, LP of Rowlett became the second Texas claimant of a Mega Millions jackpot. The cash value option from the March 1st $112 million advertised jackpot was $68,208,778 (before taxes). The ticket was purchased at Dalrock Grocery in Rowlett. The retail owner is eligible to receive a bonus of $1 million for selling the jackpot winning ticket.

The Texas Lottery Commission votes to propose Mega Millions game changes after the California Lottery announced plans to become the 12th lottery member to join the multi-state game. The changes are expected to go into effect in June, and are projected to generate more than $67 million in additional revenue to the state from sales for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2005 through Fiscal Year 2009.

March 1

To honor Bob Wills on the 100th anniversary of his birthday, the Texas Lottery issued the first-ever commemorative scratch ticket featuring the "Father of Western Swing." The $1 instant game offers a top cash prize of $1,100.

February 23

With the almost $30 million in distributions that were made in calendar year 2004, Charitable Bingo distributions exceed $773.6 million since 1982. More than 1,300 charitable organizations are licensed to conduct bingo in Texas.

February 2

Transfers from the Texas Lottery Commission to the Foundation School Fund, which supports public education in Texas, top $7 billion. As of February 2, 2005, the exact amount transferred to the fund is $7,012,935,039.

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December 3

The Texas Lottery celebrates its first full year of participation in the multistate Mega Millions game. Through December 3, 2004, sales for Mega Millions totaled $234 million, placing Texas in the top three states in sales. With Megaplier sales for the same period added in, sales totaled $289 million.

October 27

Texas' first $30 scratch off game, Holiday Millions Wishes , debuts. In addition to four $2 million top prizes, the game offers prizes in the amounts of $20,000, $2000, $500, $300, $100, $70, $40 and $30. Overall odds of winning any prize in Holiday Millions Wishes are 1 in 2.17.

October 4

Ut Van Nguyen of Carrollton became the first Texas player to claim a Mega Millions jackpot. Nguyen's ticket matched all 5 numbers plus the Mega Ball drawn on October 2 to win the $101 million advertised jackpot. Texas joined the 11-state Mega Millions in December 2003.

September 8

The Texas Lottery Commission announced the execution of contracts for instant ticket manufacturing and services with the following entities: Scientific Games International, Inc. (Primary Vendor), and Pollard Banknote Limited (Secondary Vendor).

August 31

Fiscal Year 2004 ends as the second-highest sales year in the history of the Texas Lottery, with unaudited sales figures of all products totaling nearly $3.5 billion. These sales resulted in a contribution of $1 billion to the Foundation School Fund, which helps support public education in Texas.

Transfers to the Foundation School Fund now add up more than $6.6 billion since 1997, and total transfers from the Texas Lottery to the state of Texas equal more than $11.9 billion.

July 1

June was a record-setting sales month for the Texas Lottery, with overall sales for the Games of Texas totaling more than $391.6 million. These best-ever sales were driven in large part by the all-time high Texas Lotto jackpot of $145 million won on June 19, as well as the introduction of exciting new scratch off games and a huge Mega Millions jackpot, which stood at $290 million at month's end.

June 19

An unprecedented $122 million worth of tickets was sold this week for the biggest jackpot in Texas Lotto history, and the second largest single-state jackpot in U.S. history. The record estimated jackpot amount was $145 million. One ticket, sold in El Paso, matched all five numbers plus the Bonus Ball number. The winning numbers were 29-26-9-28-40, and the Bonus Ball number was 16.

May 29

The Texas Lottery celebrates its 12th Anniversary. Since the Texas Lottery began on May 29, 1992, total sales have amounted to more than $35 billion and retailer commissions have totaled $1.8 billion. Total transfers to the state equal more than $11.4 billion, with over $6 billion of this amount transferred to the Foundation School Fund, which helps pay for public education in Texas.

April 12

The three-member board of the Texas Lottery Commission vote unanimously to give the Executive Director flexibility to change the drawing schedule and draw days of the Texas Lottery Texas Two Step game.

"Effective Saturday, June 26, 2004, the new draw days for the Two Step game will be Mondays and Thursdays," announces Executive Director Reagan E. Greer.

April 1

The Texas Lottery ranks in the top 10 of worldwide lotteries in terms of total sales for the calendar year 2003, according to La Fleur's Magazine, which annually calculates sales of all lotteries around the world. In the March/April edition, the magazine cited Texas Lottery sales for the 2003 calendar year at $3.17 billion.

April 1

Charitable Bingo celebrates its Tenth Anniversary at the Texas Lottery Commission. The administration of Charitable Bingo was transferred from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to the Texas Lottery Commission on April 1, 1994. During the past 10 years: 286.5 million people have attended Charitable Bingo occasions in Texas, Charitable Bingo gross receipts have totaled $6 billion, prizes paid to Bingo players have totaled $4.4 billion, charitable distributions generated by Bingo activities have totaled $389 million, allocations to cities and counties have totaled $99.6 million.

March 15

The Texas Lottery Commission meets its mission of Contributing to the Foundation School Fund - in the total amount of $6,072,810,266. The milestone is reached after the latest transfer of $82.8 million, which has occurred monthly since September 1, 1997.

February 27

Because of an exciting makeover for Bingo pull-tabs in 2003, contributions for non-profit organizations conducting Charitable Bingo see an eye-popping increase. The sale of pull-tabs goes up dramatically by nearly 45 percent to $128.9 million from $88.9 million in 2002. It marks the highest sales for pull-tabs since 1995.

February 20

Texans participate in the highest jackpot ever seen in the Lone Star State. The Mega Millions jackpot is worth an advertised $230 million. Sales total $12.2 million leading up to the drawing, with $9.5 million of that coming in on the day of the drawing.

Although no Texan wins the grand jackpot, there are six tickets that match the second prize tier, each worth $175,000. The tickets are sold in Austin, Fort Worth, Houston, Richmond, San Antonio and Weatherford.

January 31

Lotto Texas hits its highest level since the game changed in May of 2003. A single ticket in Houston matches all five numbers plus the Bonus Ball for the advertised $70 million jackpot.

The winner, Heliodoro Cuenca, chose the Cash Value Option payment and receives more than $42.8 million, before taxes.

January 15

The Texas Lottery hits a huge milestone in its 11 years: $11 billion for Texas since the Games of Texas began in 1992. Since 1997, more than $5.9 billion of that has gone to the Foundation School Fund, which helps pay for public education in Texas.

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December 31

Since the first Mega Millions drawing on December 5, there have been 541,982 cash-prize winning tickets in Texas. Of those, 142,228 were purchased with the Megaplier feature.

To date, there have been 11 tickets that won the $175,000 prize, and three of those were purchased with the Megaplier.

December 5

The Texas Lottery participates in its first ever Mega Millions drawing. Up for grabs - a $44 million jackpot. While no one correctly matches all five numbers plus the Mega Ball, there is one ticket sold in Texas that matches the first five numbers. The winner collects a $175,000 prize.

December 3

Sales start for Mega Millions, and retailers everywhere are asking players, "Do you want to Megaply?" Texas becomes the only state in the 11-member Mega Millions group to offer an additional game feature, the Megaplier.

For an extra $1, players can choose to play the Megaplier feature. They have the option of multiplying their non-jackpot prize winnings two, three or four times.

October 24

Pick 3 turns 10! Since inception in 1993, it has raked in nearly $1.9 billion in sales, and paid out almost $907.2 million in prizes.

October 22

Texas Lottery Sales is the big news item of the month. " Mega Millions sales set to begin on December 3," Executive Director Reagan E. Greer announces. The first drawing for Texas to participate will be Friday, December 5.

A record-setting sales year for the Texas Lottery at the State Fair of Texas - it includes instant ticket sales of $338,164, and on-line tickets total $55,784.50.

The Texas Lottery offers the first-ever scratch-off game that allows players the chance at $2 million instantly, and paid out in one lump sum payment. The $2,000,000 Spectacular scratch game is one of four holiday tickets up for grabs for Christmas 2003.

October 16

Executive Director Reagan E. Greer signs one of the biggest agreements in Texas Lottery history. Texas becomes the 11th state to join Mega Millions . Sales are anticipated to meet or exceed the Legislative Budget Board's initial estimate of $101 million for the biennium.

Texans join Mega Millions players in Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia and Washington.

September 12

Texas Lottery retailers participated in their first Amber Alert since joining the Texas Amber Alert Network last spring. On-line terminals and LED signs helped spread the word about three children, abducted from the Jourdanton area outside of San Antonio.

September 1

Texas Lottery Commission begins a public awareness campaign to remind players that The Games of Texas were created to be a fun form of entertainment and to PLAY RESPONSIBLY!

August 5

Texas Lottery Commission authorizes Executive Director Reagan E. Greer to begin negotiations to join Mega Millions - the 10 member multi-state game. Revenue for the State of Texas is expected to reach more than $100 million for the first biennium.

July 28

Time runs out on a $5 million Lotto Texas jackpot. It is the fourth multi-million dollar jackpot to go unclaimed in the Texas Lottery's 11-year history.

The ticket was purchased in San Antonio for the January 29 drawing, and was worth more than $3 million, the Cash Value Option equivalent of the jackpot amount.

July 17

With Fiscal Year 2002 sales at $2.966 billion, the Texas Lottery moves to third place in the nation for overall sales behind the Massachusetts and New York lotteries, according to a fiscal sales summary provided by La Fleur's 2003 World Lottery Almanac.

June 9

The very first winner of the revamped Lotto Texas game claims his prize. David Kelly of Houston matched all five numbers plus the Bonus Ball for the June 7 jackpot, worth $37 million. He chose the Cash Value Option, and received more than $24 million, before taxes.

May 4

Sales begin for the new Lotto Texas game. The first drawing is set for May 7. Players now choose five numbers from one field of 44 numbers, and then choose a bonus ball number from another field of 44 numbers.

March 31

Governor Rick Perry comes to the Texas Lottery Commission to make a joint announcement with Executive Director Reagan E. Greer that the agency has joined the Texas Amber Alert Network, bringing more than 15,800 lottery retailers into the state's effort to find missing and abducted children.

March 27

The Texas Lottery Commission posts a 3-0 vote in favor of changing the Lotto Texas game. The new bonus ball-style game, with ticket sales set to begin May 4, is expected to bring in more than $50 million in additional revenue to the State of Texas in the first full fiscal year of sales.

Players will choose five numbers from one field of 44 numbers; then choose a bonus ball from a second field of 44 numbers.

Projections indicate a possibility of Lotto Texas jackpots reaching between $65 and $100 million three to four times in a 52-week period.

March 25

A record-high $1.8 million Texas Two Step jackpot is up for grabs. Three lucky tickets match all four numbers plus the Bonus Ball. Two tickets are purchased in Houston, and the third ticket is bought in Teague.

February 28

Reagan E. Greer of San Antonio is named Executive Director of the Texas Lottery Commission.

January 22

The record Lotto Texas jackpot for the current fiscal year - $53 million - is split between two six-of-six matching tickets. The winners, the Victory Trust of Brownsville and the Perkov Family Trust of Grand Prairie, each receive $16.2 million for choosing the Cash Value Option payout.

January 10

Texas Lottery gives Texans an opportunity to own a little piece of the Texas Dream. The instant ticket game Bucks 'N Trucks is back by popular demand as Bucks 'N Trucks II . The first winner of a new, bright red Ford F-150 SuperCab pickup is Jimmie Buck from Fredericksburg.

January 9

The 180-day deadline passes for a Lotto Texas ticket bought in Dallas for the July 13, 2002, drawing, worth $9 million. The Quick Pick ticket was purchased with the Cash Value Option, and was worth $5,184,917 million, before taxes. It makes the third jackpot-winning ticket left unclaimed in Texas Lottery history.

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December 22

The day marks the first time a Texas Two Step jackpot has gone unclaimed in the game's history. The $300,000 jackpot-winning ticket was purchased in Grand Prairie for the drawing held on June 25.

December 15

The Texas Lottery Commission reaches a financial milestone. Total transfers to the State of Texas exceed $10 billion. Transfers to the Foundation School Fund total more than $4.9 billion since 1997.

September 27

Gary Grief is named Acting Executive Director of the Texas Lottery Commission.

August 31

The Texas Lottery Commission is on a roll. Sales for Fiscal Year 2002 continue on an upward swing, making the fiscal year the third straight year for sales going up, and helping to create the fifth-largest transfer of Lottery dollars to the State in the agency's 10-year history. Sales total $2.966 billion, and the state receives $956.6 million in revenue, a 10.5 percent increase from the previous fiscal year.

August 8

After 10 years of operations, Texas Lottery terminals in more than 16,500 lottery retailers are changed over to the new ISYS terminal. The new terminals feature a customer display screen that provides players verification of winning tickets at lottery retail outlets. The new terminals also have programmable LED (Light Emitting Diode) message display units, allowing the Lottery Commission the instantaneous ability to better inform players and retailers of jackpot amounts or new games.

July 29

The first drawing is held for the Texas Lottery's newest game, Cash Five. The game replaces the old Cash 5 game, and produces more than 71,000 winners, who win a combined total of $276,644. Players win a guaranteed cash prize of $2 for matching only two numbers.

The overall odds of winning change from 1-in-100 to 1-in-8, and it becomes the lottery's second on-line game to be drawn every day except Sundays.

June 22

Lotto Texas jackpot is worth $70 million. Tickets are selling at an average of 41,941 per minute. There are five 6-of-6 matching tickets sold in Terrell, Sherman, Pearland, Austin and Longview. Four of the tickets are sold before the day of the drawing, and one is sold the day of the drawing. All five of the winners chose the Cash Value Option and receive more than $8.5 million each, before taxes.

June 1

The Texas Lottery Commission Anniversary Celebration takes place at headquarters in Austin. The event, held on 6th Street, includes musical talent by Austin musician Shelley King and The David Spann Band, featuring Texas State Representative Ron Wilson. GTECH provides the lottery selling trailer, and lottery retailer Fiesta Mart sells more than $4,700 worth of tickets for the event, which runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

May 29

The Texas Lottery reaches its 10 Year Anniversary of sales. To commemorate the event, the Lottery plans a week-long celebration that includes an Employee Appreciation Day and awards for Texas Lottery Retailers that sold $10 million or more in lottery products. Fifty-seven employees are honored at the quarterly staff meeting for 10 years service at the Texas Lottery, and 12 retailers are honored in Austin at a special dinner given by GTECH.

May 27

History is made with the first change ever to the time of the Texas Lottery's on-line game drawings. The drawing time is changed from 9:59 p.m. to 10:12 p.m.

May 1

The Texas Lottery introduces the first Texas Lottery Harley-Davidson Scratch-Off game. The instant game is an instant success with players, with three top winners for the Harley-Davidson ^® Sportster ^® 1200 Custom ^TM motorcycle in the first two days of sales.

The instant game ends the month breaking an industry record for one-month ticket sales by exceeding $12.5 million. The former record was held by California, which posted sales of $9 million.

April 29

The Texas Lottery launches the first-ever Pick 3 Day Drawing with an overwhelming response from players. First day sales from April 28 total more than $99,000. Now drawings take place at 12:27 p.m. every day except Sundays.

April

Charitable Bingo in the Lone Star State marks its 20 Year Anniversary. Since 1982, Charitable Bingo has brought in approximately:

• $682.4 million in charitable contributions,
• $9.8 billion in gross receipts,
• $7.1 billion in prize payouts, and
• $151.9 million allocated back to county and municipal governments.

During the same time period, approximately 484.7 million people have attended bingo games.

March 18

Texas Lottery Commission launches a statewide public awareness campaign regarding the "Latin Lotto Scam ." The lottery enlists the aid of law enforcement agencies throughout the state to help spread the message among elderly Hispanics to be aware of con artists duping citizens with altered lottery tickets.

The campaign kicks off in Houston at the Ripley House with State Senator Mario Gallegos and Houston Police Department representatives present. Also the Lottery, in conjunction with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (T-CLEOSE) sponsored training programs in major metropolitan cities around Texas to inform local law enforcement about the scam.

March 15

The unclaimed $13 million Lotto Texas jackpot prize is transferred to the state's Multicategorical Teaching Hospital Account. The account receives $7.3 million, which equals the Cash Value Option amount.

March 6

Texas Lottery Claim Centers throughout the state are now able to pay a top-prize amount up to $999,999.

February 8

A ticket sold in Cameron matches all four numbers plus the Bonus Ball for the Texas Two Step drawing, and becomes the highest single jackpot-winning ticket for the game to date. Gwendolyn Kelly of Cameron collects the $1.5 million jackpot prize on March 15th.

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December 20

A Lotto Texas ticket for a $13 million jackpot expires at midnight after not being claimed within the 180-day time period. The Quick Pick ticket was bought in Humble for the June 23, 2001, drawing. The player(s) chose the Cash Value Option, which would have paid out $7.3 million. It is the second time in the lottery's history that a jackpot has gone unclaimed.

October 10

Enhanced services, faster ticket machines and the lowest per-ticket rate Texas has ever paid are just a few of the benefits of a new nine-year contract signed by the Texas Lottery Commission and the GTECH Corporation. TLC Executive Director Linda Cloud said the new contract provides "greater value to the State of Texas and better services for players and retailers."

September 1

Fiscal Year 2001 ended on an upswing for sales of Lotto Texas. Up by 19 percent over the previous year, unaudited sales of Lotto during FY 2001 came in at $695 million, compared with $583 million the previous fiscal year. Total cash transfers to the Foundation School Fund for FY '01 are $835.8 million.

May 13

Texas Two Step dances across Texas with a flourish. Sales for the first week top $1.2 million, with $655 thousand coming on the day of the first drawing, May 18th. To debut the game, the Lottery co-sponsors a two-step dance contest in Pasadena, drawing nearly 500 entries. The winners, selected from 17 two-stepping couples, took home the first prize of an all-expense trip to Florida to see country music stars Brooks and Dunn in concert.

May 11

Texas Million discontinued. Since it began in May 1998, Texas Million created 25 millionaires and had nearly $210 million in sales, bringing close to $65 million to the Foundation School Fund during the term of the game.

March 16

One day after claiming their record jackpot, the members of RBH CNC, Ltd., Robert and Beverly Chody, hold a press conference surrounded by family, friends, and dozens of Robert Chody's colleagues from the City of Austin Police Department. The mounted police officer says he'll keep working. The partnership claimed its prize the day before, on Beverly's 30th birthday.

March 9

Governor Rick Perry appoints Houston businessman Walter Criner to the Texas Lottery Commission to a term that expires January 31, 2003. The new appointee replaces Houston attorney Anthony Sadberry who resigned. The governor also re-appoints Dallas attorney Betsy Whitaker to a full six-year term.

March 7

Lotto fever grips the state! Ticket sales skyrocket as the Lotto Texas jackpot climbs to $85 million, its highest level ever. With sales climbing by the minute, Lottery Executive Director Linda Cloud bumps the advertised record jackpot of $77 million to $85 million. At the peak of sales on Wednesday, tickets went at the rate of 64,000 per minute. Sales reach a new one-day record of $32.2 million the day of the drawing.

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September 13

LOJO Partners of Richardson claims the largest single-winner jackpot prize sold to date for Lotto Texas. The winner is a partnership that is represented by Lois Loden and John Osorio of Richardson. They chose the Cash Value Option that will give the partnership $34.1 million.

Loden and Osorio purchased $15 worth of tickets at an Albertson's located at 111 N. Plano in Richardson.

September 9

Lotto fever is everywhere! With a $60 million estimated jackpot ready to go ticket sales are soaring. Sales are so strong, Lottery Executive Director Linda Cloud bumps the advertised jackpot twice: first from $57 million to $59 million and then to $60 million, making this the first "double bump" in Lotto Texas history.

During peak selling hours on Saturday, tickets were going at 33,000 per minute. The $60 million jackpot is the third largest prize in the history of the agency.

August 31

The Texas Lottery Commission ends its eighth fiscal year by posting sales in excess of $2.6 billion.

Public education is again the big winner, as it receives nearly $900 million from Lottery deposits. Since the first ticket was sold in May of 1992, the State has received more than $8 billion in lottery revenues.

July 19

For the first time in nearly eight years, the Texas Lottery changes its Lotto Texas game. Four numbers are added to the field from which players can choose their numbers. Among the other changes is a hike in the payout to 55 percent of the jackpot.

Additionally, winners picking three of six winning numbers see their prize increase from $3 to $5: winners of four-of-six will see an increase to a $105 average payout: and the five-of-six average prize climbs to $2,500. The odds also decrease to one in 25.8 million for winning the six-of-six jackpot prize.

March 22

A $28 million Lotto Texas jackpot causes a sensation. It is the largest jackpot to date of calendar year 2000, and a former Dallas Cowboy living in Austin purports to have the winning ticket. Eight days later, a corporation headed by Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson claims a Cash Value Option jackpot in excess of $14 million.

March 21

After nearly five years at the helm of the three-member Lottery Commission, Chairwoman Harriet Miers resigns. Governor George W. Bush names C. Tom Clowe originally appointed in November of 1998, to head the Commission. Bush also appoints Dallas attorney Betsy Whitaker to assume Miers'unexpired term.

March 14

Texas Lottery Commissioners vote unanimously to authorize the publication of proposed amendments that could bring changes to the Lotto Texas game by early summer. The amendments increase the payout from 50 percent to 55 percent and expand the Lotto's field of numbers from 50 to 54.

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December 15

Houston-area Lottery players won't have to look far to find out what the latest Lotto Texas jackpot is. Ten trailers featuring a digital display across the sides of the trucks will tell motorists and pedestrians the amount of the current Lotto jackpot. The trucks will travel throughout a 50- to 75-mile radius within the Houston area carrying non-Lottery merchandise to retail outlets.

November 10

The largest Lotto Texas jackpot to date in calendar year 1999, $38 million, is won by Candelario and San Juanita Garcia of Victoria. The store clerk mistakenly sold San Juanita 10 annuity Quick Pick tickets. She decided to keep them anyway.

September 14

A dozen lottery players, mostly struggling farmers from Gould, Oklahoma, pop. 250, harvested a huge cash crop this year in the form of a Lotto Texas Cash Value Option jackpot of $11.8 million. They purchased 120 tickets at the Super 7 Convenience store in Quanah. The advertised jackpot for the August 23rd drawing was $23 million.

August 31

Fiscal Year 1999 ends and the Texas Lottery delivers nearly $1 billion to the Foundation School Fund. Since its inception, the Lottery has returned more than $7 billion to state coffers.

August 6

Retirement is even sweeter now for 64-year-old Louis C. Lopez of Midland. He took home a Cash Value Option lump sum of $5.1 million for winning the $10 million Lotto Texas drawing on July 28th. He bought only one ticket.

July 26

Bingo players can now call to find out where they can play. Players can call 1-800-48-TEXAS to find the nearest Charitable Bingo hall. This same information is available on the web site at www.txbingo.org, where players can search by ZIP code, city, or county to find the nearest hall.

July 23

Chalk one up for the media. Veteran news anchor Peter Torgerson of Harlingen, and long-time friend and landscaper Mark Hulings of Rio Hondo, split the $37 million jackpot from the July 17th Lotto Texas drawing. Torgerson bought five Lotto tickets for Hulings on his birthday.

July 8

Fogarty Klein & Partners, a Houston advertising agency, wins the bid to handle general advertising duties for the Texas Lottery. The agency replaced GSD&M of Austin.

June 30

The Texas Lottery goes "e" when it launches its new web site at www.txlottery.org. In the first three weeks, over a quarter million people visit the site, averaging over 12 minutes each time they visit.

June 20

The Texas Lottery issues BINGO, the newest instant ticket that reflects the hike in the prize payout. The $2-dollar BINGO ticket features a brand new play style with up to four chances to win on one ticket and a top prize of $25,000.

June 19

Gov. George W. Bush signed into law House Bill 844 by Rep. Ron Wilson, D-Houston, removing the cap on the prize payout percentage. This restored to the Texas Lottery Commission the discretion to establish the payout.

February 28

"It was a great year for Charitable Bingo in Texas," declares Billy Atkins, Charitable Bingo Director at the Texas Lottery Commission. During 1998, gross receipts from bingo totaled $604 million, up from $593 million in 1997. Charitable distributions also increased from $38 million in 1997 to $42 million in 1998.

January 13

Bill Parsons, general partner of the Financial Freedom I, L.P., kicked off 1999 by winning $22 million. He held the ticket from the drawing on Saturday, January 2nd and claimed his prize as a Cash Value Option sum that totaled $12.3 million.

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November 13

C. Thomas Clowe, Jr. of Waco is appointed by Gov. George W. Bush to fill the unexpired term of Judge John L. Hill on the Texas Lottery Commission. Clowe is senior vice president of Southern Union Company, Austin, a natural gas business with clients in four states.

October 29

Billy Atkins is named Charitable Bingo Operations Director.

October 17

For only the second time in its history, the Lotto Texas jackpot rolls to $65 million. The last time the jackpot rolled this high was in August of 1994.

October 10

Texas has six new millionaires as the Grand Prize Drawings come to a close. Robert Vice of Magnolia, Kim Bigley of Austin, Jimmy Jackson of Angleton, Ronny Foster of Dallas, Phuong Do of Garland, and Jacqueline Smith of Devine each won $1 million at a Grand Prize Drawing.

October 2

Lightning hits twice in the Central Texas town of McGregor. Dandy Dan's Citgo sells two top-prize Buck$ 'N Truck$ tickets within 10 days of each other. The elated truck winners, Billie Lam of Flat and Kay Waters of Moody, collect their prizes at the Waco Claim Center.

August 31

Fiscal Year 1998 ends with total sales at nearly $3.1 billion. The Lottery transfers $1.3 billion to the Foundation School Fund.

July 8

Lone Star Millionaire returns! The Lottery revives the popular game that first appeared in the Summer of 1992. Six Grand Prize Drawings are scheduled for South Padre Island, El Paso, Lubbock, San Antonio, and two at the State Fair of Texas.

June 3

In another first, the Lottery premieres a new scratch game with a top prize of merchandise. With Buck$ 'N Truck$, players can win a fully-loaded Special Edition Dodge Ram truck valued at $34,000, as well as cash prizes ranging from $2 to $1,000.

May 29

Four Texas Million players become the state's newest millionaires. First-drawing sales surpass the $6 million mark.

May 19

Ten co-workers at Continental Airlines in Houston pool their resources and invest $10 in Lotto Texas tickets. Their investment nets them a profit of a $4 million jackpot.

May 18

Texas Million debuts! Tickets for the Lottery's fourth on-line game go on sale and are available at any retailer where Lotto Texas, Cash 5, or Pick 3 are sold.

March 14

They stopped to buy bread, but walked out with a lot of dough. Forestburg floor-installer Charles McDaniel and his wife Joan discover they're holding one of the two winning tickets for that night's Lotto Texas drawing. On the way home from seeing Titanic, they stopped at a convenience store to buy bread at 2:30 a.m. and learned they had a winning ticket.

March 11

Proving yet again that it takes only one ticket to win, 38-year-old Houston construction worker LaDraun Campbell wins $12 million in Lotto Texas dollars. He hires a bus to bring 50 family members and friends, all of whom slept at his house the night before, to share in his big day at Lottery HQ in Austin.

February 4

The Lotto Texas jackpot climbs to $47 million and ticket sales soar to more than 40,000 per minute at 5 p.m. on the day of the drawing. One winning ticket is sold in Uvalde to Billy Cowsert of San Antonio. He comes to collect his big win on February 27.

January 8

It's an astronomical sales record for the five-year-old Texas Lottery! "If we laid every instant ticket we've sold since start-up end to end, the line would go to the moon and back," says Lottery Director Linda Cloud, as the Lottery celebrates selling $10 billion in instant tickets. Those sales include tickets sold for $1, $2, $3 and $5.

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December 16

In a unanimous vote, the three-member Lottery Commission officially names Acting Executive Director Linda Cloud as the Lottery's Executive Director.

November 24

For trucks, there's no place like Texas. The Lottery issues a Request for Proposals for a prize vehicle package that will be the driving force of a new instant game in 1998. The Bucks 'N Trucks game will offer 50 top-prize winners the "Official Truck of the Texas Lottery."

November 4

In celebration of Lotto Texas' fifth birthday, the Lottery offers jackpots worth no less than $10 million for each drawing through November.

October 29

Linda Cloud is named Acting Executive Director by the Texas Lottery Commissioners.

October 18

It was an enchanted evening for 20 strangers who met while waiting in line at the Corner Mart in Texas City to buy tickets for the $55 million Lotto Texas jackpot that night. They pooled their resources, bought 100 Quick Picks, and won the whole thing. The group of fortunate strangers called themselves the "Texas City Lucky Lottery Trust."

October 15

Cisco dishwasher Fidencia Ramirez finally gets to sleep late after winning an $8 million Lotto Texas jackpot. For the last 18 years, she had been rising at 4:30 a.m. to get to work by 6 a.m. at the White Elephant Restaurant where she purchased the ticket. She and her husband, Perfecto, move to Presidio to be closer to their children.

September 26

The second annual "Lotto Texas Second Chance Drawing" ends with Melissa Miller of Austin winning the $100,000 Grand Prize.

September 24

The number '13' proves to be a lucky charm for a group of 13 paralegals, law clerks, billing assistants, and secretaries at a Dallas law firm. Each put $5 in the Lotto Texas pool, and the group came away winning $10.4 million.

September 3

John Rhode, a construction foreman, puts the town of Weatherford on the Lotto Texas map once again by winning a $10 million jackpot, the fourth by a resident of the town. With a population of 15,000, Weatherford becomes the smallest Texas town with the most Lotto Texas winners.

August 31

Surpassing the Comptroller's Revenue Estimate, the Lottery ends the '97 fiscal year with total sales reaching $3.7 billion, exceeding the previous year's sales by more than nine percent.

August 20

Ten employees of the Folger's Coffee Company in Sherman pool their money and win a $6.4 million Lotto Texas jackpot. To collect their winnings, they form the "BPWU" (Best Part of Waking Up) Partnership.

July 26

Using the numbers on road signs between Laredo and San Antonio, Rosa Zamora fills in a Lotto Texas playslip and wins $6.6 million. Her husband, Jesus, quits his job at the Coca Cola plant in San Antonio, and they and their three children return to Matamoros, Mexico to start a business.

July 16

After 15 years of layoffs and business closings, Billie Harrell of Porter claims a $31 million Lotto Texas jackpot. "I wasn't going to give up. Everyone kept telling me it would get better. I didn't realize it would get this much better," he said at his check presentation ceremony.

June 9

Larry Littwin of New York City is hired as the new Executive Director of the Texas Lottery.

Linda Cloud, former Director of Lottery Operations, is appointed by Commissioners to the post of Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Lottery.

May 29

It is the Lottery's 5th Birthday and the Lottery gets quite a gift - the breaking of weekly sales records made in the very first week of lottery sales.

April 23

"The Wild Bunch," a self-proclaimed zany group of 17 mostly-retired Corpus Christi residents come to Lottery Headquarters to collect approximately $6 million. This group of country music musicians entertain the staff, and themselves, by plucking their guitars, belting out songs, and two-steppin'.

April 18

The Lottery moves from 6935 IH 35, its headquarters for four years, to a new home located in the heart of downtown Austin at 611 East Sixth Street.

March 18

The Lottery Commissioners direct the Commission staff to "proceed to re-bid the lottery operator contract through the preparation and issuance of a Request for Proposals no later than June 30, 1997, or earlier as best efforts allow."

February 10

The Lottery offers players a Cash Value Option, allowing Lotto Texas jackpot winners the option of collecting their prize money all at once, or in annual installments.

January 10

Texas Lottery total ticket sales pass the $13 billion mark.

January 2

Governor George Bush appoints former Chief Justice John Hill of Houston to the Texas Lottery Commission. Hill replaces Joe Morin of Austin, who resigned.

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December 18

Forty-three winners from the farming town of Roby come to Lottery Headquarters to collect a $46.7 million Lotto Texas Christmas present. These friendly winners receive international media coverage - including stories in USA Today and Time magazines, and coverage on "Good Morning America" and "The Today Show."

November 27

Tonight's Lotto Texas jackpot totals $46.7 million. It is the second-largest jackpot won by a single ticket in Texas Lottery history.

November 25

The Lottery adds Monday and Thursday Cash 5 drawings to the current Tuesday and Friday draw schedule.

November 6

Happy Holidays, the Texas Lottery's first $5 scratch game, is launched. Strong sales from all Lottery products help set a record average of $78.4 million per week for the 1996 holiday season.

October 24

It's Lotto Texas' birthday, and a red and yellow gift box explodes in the Lottery parking lot to reveal a $10 million present to Lotto Texas players. From October 26 to November 9, no jackpot is less than $10 million and the jackpots grow in increments of $10 million!

October 9

Texas Lottery sales since start-up reach $12 billion.

September 24

Artist Raphael Casarez helps to kick off the Lottery's Second Scratch Ticket Design Contest in San Antonio. Casarez designed the Honey Money scratch ticket - one of two new games produced from among the winners of the first contest.

August 31

The 1996 fiscal year closes with a bang, with a record $3.4 billion in total sales and $1.1 billion in profits for the General Revenue Fund.

August 2

Lotto Texas Second Chance Drawings are held every Friday in August. By August 30, 125 winners have won a total of $2 million.

June 23

Total Texas Lottery sales pass the $11 billion mark.

May 28

Lottery approves extension, for a maximum of five years, of contract with GTECH Corporation. This extension will provide $100 million rate cut and $1.29 billion in new revenue to the state.

March 10

The not-quite-four-year-old Texas Lottery becomes the fastest U.S. lottery ever to sell $10 billion in tickets. It takes just 101 days to sell this most-recent $1 billion.

February 2

More than 50 Texas Lottery millionaires brave a winter storm and come to Houston for educational seminars at the Second Annual Millionaires Reunion.

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December 31

Charitable Bingo gross receipts in Texas total $635.2 million for calendar year 1995, an increase of $557,000 over 1994 figures. That is the first increase in annual Bingo receipts in Texas since 1991.

November 30

Texas Lottery sales since start-up reach $9 billion.

October 13

First Cash 5 drawing produces 19,191 winners, including Shui Fong Sun of Houston, the only player to match all 5 winning numbers for a prize of $224,488. Cash 5 drawings will be Tuesday and Friday nights at 9:59 p.m. Central Time.

October 10

Five skydiving Elvises land in Dallas' historic West End Marketplace to kick off sales for Cash 5, the on-line game where players pick five numbers from a field of 39 for a chance to win "cash prizes worth celebrating."

September 29

First Texas Lottery tickets sold at the State Fair of Texas. New law allows sale of Lottery tickets on government-owned land.

September 21

Profits earned on fiscal 1995 sales reach a record $1 billion. All Texas Lottery profits are deposited into the General Revenue Fund, the state's main "checking account."

August 31

Texas Lottery ticket sales for fiscal year 1995 reach a record $3.037 billion. Texas is the No. 1 selling lottery in North America for the second year in a row.

August 11

The Lottery sells $1 billion in tickets in only 110 days. Total sales soar past the $8 billion mark!

August 10

Governor Bush appoints Austin's Joe Morin to the Texas Lottery Commission. Mr. Morin is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce.

August 4

Guadalupe Rodriguez joins the Texas Lottery's Hall of Fame. The El Paso newspaper carrier wins the second largest prize to date (surpassing Jean Graham of Houston), claiming a $43,503,163 Lotto Texas jackpot. How does it feel? "Almost like walking on air," according to Guadalupe.

July 17

Texas Lottery profits for the General Revenue Fund pass the $2.5 billion mark after just 37 months of ticket sales!

May 26

Buying tickets gets easier for scratch game players as the Lottery introduces instant ticket vending machines. The first machines are rolled out at selected Lottery retail locations in San Antonio.

May 23

Adena Thompson and Gordon Larson of Farmers Branch claim the first $1,000-a-week prize in the immensely successful Weekly Grand game.

May 4

Governor George W. Bush appoints Dallas attorney Harriet Miers to the Texas Lottery Commission. Ms. Miers is a former President of the Texas Bar Association and Dallas City Council member.

April 24

The 180-day limit passes on a $12.4 million jackpot prize purchased for the October 26 Lotto Texas drawing. That prize becomes the first jackpot prize to go unclaimed.

April 23

A quiet Sunday pushes cumulative Lottery ticket sales over the $7 billion mark!

March 23

Ten celebrity judges select Texas 'Toons, by Austin artist Greg Dorchak, as the winner of the Lottery's first scratch game design contest. The Lottery received more than 31,000 entries and paid a grand prize of $3,000!

March 13

Proclaiming "Pick 3 is EZ," Lottery officials launch a campaign to introduce more players to Pick 3, the daily game.

January 25

More than 40 Texas Lottery millionaires-whose prizes total nearly half a billion dollars-gather in Austin for the first Millionaires' Reunion. Asked if they still play the Lottery, they answer in unison, "You bet!"

January 17

Lightning strikes twice for Aurbie Johnson of Waco. The 74-year-old father of ten arrives to claim his Instant Million top prize, just five months after he scratched off a $100,000 prize in The $100,000 Game!

January 4

Four of the longest stretch limousines in Texas pull up to Lottery Headquarters. Our most flamboyant Lotto Texas millionaire to date-Foster McMillan of Euless-brings 30 excited friends and family members to help him claim his $5.2 million jackpot.

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December 31

Closing the year with $2.8 billion in sales, the Texas Lottery ranks No. 1 in the USA and No. 4 in the entire world in total sales! Texas ranks third in the world in instant ticket sales and fifth in on-line product sales.

December 14

No one matches all six numbers in the Wednesday night Lotto Texas drawing, but total Texas Lottery sales pass the $6 billion mark!

November 12

Jean Graham's record doesn't last long. Joe Jones, a service station owner from Mansfield, wins the $54 million Lotto Texas jackpot. Says Jones: "I'll never pump another gallon of gas for the rest of my life!"

October 28

Governor Richards appoints Dallas businesswoman Jan Hart to the Texas Lottery Commission. Hart replaces Jan Fisher Greaves of Odessa, who resigned. The Governor designates Anthony Sadberry of Cypress to chair the Commission.

September 21

Jean Graham, a Houston nurse, matches all six Lotto Texas numbers. Graham, her husband, son and daughter form a trust to claim a $41.8 million jackpot -the largest single prize so far in Texas Lottery history!

August 30

Lottery profits to the General Revenue Fund for fiscal year 1994 total $869 million, including $87 million in unspent administrative funds!

August 27

Three lucky winners match all six Lotto Texas numbers to share a $58.4 million jackpot-second highest prize in Texas Lottery history.

August 13

Cumulative sales pass the $5 billion mark as the Texas Lottery is named the No. 1 Lottery in the USA!

August 4

High-flying, fast-scratching super-spokesman Scratchman tours the state to mark the introduction of the Scratchman scratch game.

July 21

David McBirnie, a bread salesman from Van Horn, wins the top prize in the Lottery's 30th-and final-Million-Dollar Grand Prize Drawing.

June 10

Carmen Valdez of Laredo claims the first Instant Million $1,000,000 prize.

May 29

The Lottery celebrates its second anniversary with the introduction of Instant Million.

May 19

McAllen schoolteachers Raul Zavaleta and Henry Lozano-the "handshake millionaires"-share a $37.6 million Lotto Texas jackpot.

April 1

Transition of Bingo regulation from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to the Texas Lottery Commission.

March 26

Still two months shy of the second anniversary of its first ticket sale, Texas Lottery sales surpass $4 billion!

March 16

Another record-setting Lotto Texas jackpot of $77.1 million is divided among five winning ticket holders!

February 24

Wanda Wilson of Houston claims a record $41.48 million Lotto Texas jackpot, the single largest Lottery prize won so far.

6 p.m. to 7 p.m. - The Lottery records its first-ever hour with more than $3 million in Lotto Texas sales.

February 17

Nora Linares named Executive Director with unanimous vote of the Texas Lottery Commission. Commission Chair Jan Fisher Greaves says, "We are fortunate to have a leader like Nora, who I am sure will work hard to maintain the highest level of integrity for the functions of the Texas Lottery Commission."

February 1

Texas Lottery's historic first game - Lone Star Millions - closes after setting two national sales records, creating 6 instant millionaires, and awarding 479 top scratch-off prizes of $10,000.

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December 3

Comptroller John Sharp and Acting Executive Director Nora Linares sign a transition agreement, transferring the functions of the Lottery from the Comptroller's Office to the Texas Lottery Commission.

November 9

Stanley Dehart of Houston buys a $2 ticket to win $1,000 a week for life!

Governor Richards appoints Texas Lottery Commission members - Jan Fisher Greaves, Chair, Richard Daly and Anthony Sadberry.

November 8

Win For Life instant game goes on sale as the Lottery's first $2 ticket. Top prize: $1,000 a week for life.

November 5

Lotto Texas reaches $1 billion in sales, two days before its 1st birthday.

October 25

Pick 3 start-up - $1.2 million in sales on the first day - another record breaker!

October 23

With two weeks left in its first year and cumulative sales totaling $973.6 million, Lotto Texas breaks the all time, first-year sales record for a Lotto game set by Florida in 1989.

September 9

Rebecca Brown of Irving, Texas, is the largest single jackpot winner to date. The amount won: $38.6 million!

September 1

H.B. 1587 takes effect creating the Texas Lottery Commission.

August 30

The Texas Lottery transfers $80.9 million in surplus administrative funds to the state's General Revenue Fund, making a total of $812 million earned in the first 15 months. This is nearly $350 million more than the original estimate of Lottery earnings for the biennium.

July 7

$48.96 million jackpot is split three ways between winners from Corpus Christi, Dallas and Loneoke, Arkansas.

May 29

"Quick Pick" option for Lotto Texas added on the Texas Lottery's first anniversary.

May 25

Governor Ann Richards signs H.B. 1587 into law.

May 11

The 73rd Texas Legislature passes H.B. 1587, creating the Texas Lottery Commission. The Commission is to be composed of three commissioners who serve six-year, staggered terms. Legislation also passes that moves Bingo from the TABC to the new Commission.

May 1

14 players win a share of the Texas Lottery's largest jackpot so far - $48.6 million.

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December 22

Total Lottery sales exceed $1 billion, less than seven months after start-up.

November 28

Janie Kallus, of Schulenburg, Texas, is the first winner of a Lotto Texas jackpot. The amount won: $21.8 million!

November 16

The first recyclable lottery ticket, Stocking Stuffer, goes on sale.

November 14

The first Lotto Texas drawing is held at 9:59 PM and televised via satellite across Texas.

November 7

Lotto Texas sales begin - eight weeks ahead of schedule!

October 14

Retailer training classes for the on-line games begin across the state.

October 5

The Lottery pays the 100 millionth winning ticket since the start of instant ticket sales.

September 4

In preparation for Lotto Texas, GTECH begins installing on-line terminals in 5,250 retail locations.

June, July, August

For 14 consecutive weeks $1 million Grand Prize Drawings are held around the state.

June 18

Annabel Huerta of Abilene wins $1 million cash in the first Texas Lottery Grand Prize Drawing, held in Dallas at the Plaza of the Americas. Says Annabel: "Now I can make all my family's dreams come true!"

June 5

First week sales of 102.4 million tickets set another world record.

May 29

The Texas Lottery is launched - 47 days ahead of schedule!
At 6 a.m. at Polk's Feed Store in Oak Hill, Gov. Ann Richards purchases the first Texas Lottery scratch-off ticket. In the next 24 hours, Texans buy 23.2 million more tickets, a world record for first-day sales. The cost of the Lottery's start-up, with interest, is earned back during the first three hours of ticket sales.

May 28

Lottery kickoff parties in 14 Texas cities attended by tens of thousands of people.

May 4 - 16

Retailer training classes for instant ticket sales attended by more than 40,000 people representing 15,000 licensed locations.

April 9

First shipment of Lone Star Millions, the Lottery's first instant ticket game, arrives at GTECH warehouse in Austin.

March 24

GTECH begins installing GVT validation terminals in 15,000 licensed retail locations.

March 19

Susan Holten of Carrollton, Texas, wins the Texas Lottery Logo Contest. Her design, a ten-gallon hat thrown high in celebration, wins in head to head competition against the ad agency's logo.

March 7

Lottery Operator contract awarded to GTECH of Rhode Island to handle warehousing and distribution of tickets, retailer training and field support, telecommunications, and computer systems.

Contract awarded to GSD&M of Austin, Texas, for advertising services.

March 6

Contract awarded to Dittler Brothers of Atlanta, Georgia, for production of instant tickets.

January 27

Retailer application seminars begin in Austin and are held in eight other Texas cities over the next month.

January 11

Proposals for advertising services solicited.

January 9

Lottery Start-Up Citizens Advisory Committee meets for first time to discuss lottery-related issues and make recommendations.

January 8

Lottery sales license application packets begin going out to 65,000 Texas retailers.

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December 16

Proposals for lottery operator and instant ticket manufacturer solicited.

November 20

Nora Linares appointed director of the Texas Lottery.

November 5

Texas voters approve the Lottery by a two-to-one margin.

August 26

House Bill 54, creating a lottery in Texas, is signed by the Governor in a special session of the 72nd Legislature. The Lottery Act requires voter approval before taking effect.

August 19

The Comptroller's Lottery Task Force forms and begins preliminary preparations.

July 11

Legislation is introduced to create a state lottery.