![[photo, Montgomery Park Business Center, 1800 Washington Blvd., Baltimore, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/14doe/images/1198-1-654.jpg)
The State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency was formed as the State Lottery Agency by constitutional amendment in 1972 (Chapter 365, Acts of 1972, ratified November 7, 1972). The Agency began operation on January 2, 1973. In October 2012, it reformed under its present name with added responsibilities for gaming, especially table games (Chapter 1, Acts of 2012 2nd Special Session).
The Maryland State Lottery as well as State gambling casinos are overseen by the Agency.
Montgomery Park Business Center, 1800 Washington Blvd., Baltimore, Maryland, February 2004. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
Within the Agency are four divisions: Administration, Finance, Operations and Information Technology; Enforcement; Gaming; and Lottery. The Agency also is aided by the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission.
The Commission oversees lottery and gaming regulations and must conduct studies to determine the competitiveness of Maryland's gaming program within the gaming industry nationwide, and detect potential abuses in the operation of the program.
Seven members constitute the Commission. They are appointed to four-year terms by the Governor with Senate advice and consent. The Governor also appoints a liaison member from the Maryland Racing Commission (Chapter 1, Acts of 2012 2nd Special Session; Code Business Regulation, sec. 11-202(g); Code State Government Article, secs. 9-104 through 9-109).
The Commission is assisted by the Maryland Amusement Game Advisory Committee.
The Committee consists of six voting members appointed by the Governor. The Director of the State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency serves ex officio as a nonvoting member. The Governor names the chair (Code Criminal Law Article, sec. 12-301.1).
Lottery income is the State's third largest source of revenue, after income taxes and sales taxes. Sixty percent of Lottery revenue goes to pay prizes to players, with the remaining funds going to retailer commissions and operational expenses. Thirty percent of revenues from the State Lottery are deposited in the General Fund of the State Treasury to support Maryland government programs in education, public health, public safety and the environment.
Daily Drawings. The Agency holds twice-daily drawings for Pick 3 (a three-digit game, with prizes ranging from $25 to $500) and Pick 4 (a four-digit game, with winners receiving between $100 and $5,000). Bonus Match 5 (a pick 5-of-39 game) drawings also are held daily, offering a top prize of $50,000. 5 Card Cash is based on a standard poker game using a 52-card deck. By combining an instant win feature with a daily evening drawing, each $2 ticket has two chances to win.
Monitor Games. Keno is a monitor-style game with drawings held every four minutes. Players select up to ten numbers from a field of eighty and match them to a computer-generated group of twenty numbers displayed on a Keno monitor. Prizes range from $2 to $100,000. Racetrax is a computer-animated monitor game featuring horseracing. Players select from one to twelve horses to win prizes ranging from $1.20 to $31,454. Drawings are held approximately every five minutes.
Mega Millions (formerly The Big Game). Mega Millions is a multi-state game with multi-million dollar jackpots that start at $12 million. Players select six numbers from two different fields: five out of 56 and one Gold Mega Ball number out of 46. Winning numbers are drawn on Tuesday and Friday evenings; the game costs $1 to play. Forty-one lottery states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands participate in this game. A portion of the proceeds from Mega Millions is designated for the Maryland Stadium Authority.
Multi-Match (formerly Lotto). Multi-Match is a lotto-style, pick 6-of-43 game with drawings held on Monday and Thursday evenings. The game offers a minimum jackpot of $500,000.
Powerball. Since January 31, 2010, Maryland and forty-one other states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands in offering Powerball. Players select or request the computer to generate 6 numbers from two different fields: five out of 59 and one powerball number out of 39. Drawings are held Wednesday and Saturday evenings for jackpots starting at $20 million.
Prizes. Prizes of $600 or less may be claimed through any Lottery retail location. Winning tickets up to $5,000 can be cashed at Agent Plus retail locations. Winning tickets of any amount may be redeemed at the Maryland State Lottery Claim Centers in Baltimore. Retail locations also provide how-to-play brochures and other game information.
MARYLAND VIDEO LOTTERY (SLOTS GAMBLING)
Rocky Gap Casino Resort, Flintstone (Allegany County), Maryland, October 2014. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
STATE LOTTERY & GAMING CONTROL COMMISSION
MARYLAND STATE LOTTERY
The State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission serves as an advisory board to the State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency. In November 2008, the Commission also was assigned responsibility for regulating the operation of video lottery terminals (slot machines) in Maryland (Chapter 4, Acts of 2007 Special Session; Code State Government Article, sec. 9-1A-04).
MARYLAND AMUSEMENT GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Maryland Amusement Game Advisory Committee was authorized in June 2014 (Chapter 464, Acts of 2014). The Committee advises the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission on the conduct and technical aspects of the amusement game industry, including recommendations for the legality of skill-based amusement games.
Through the Maryland State Lottery, lottery tickets are sold and cashed at licensed retail establishments throughout Maryland. These lottery agents are private businesses that receive commissions and fees to sell the games to the public. Transactions are conducted through terminals connected to a computerized on-line real-time system.
ON-LINE LOTTERY GAMES
The State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency provides a variety of on-line games which include Pick 3, Pick 4, Bonus Match 5, Keno, Mega Millions, Multi-Match, Powerball, and Racetrax. In addition, the Agency offers an assortment of instant ticket games. Subscriptions are offered for Multi-Match and Mega-Millions. Official winning numbers are drawn on live television and are posted on the State Lottery Agency website.
In 2008, Maryland voters ratified a constitutional amendment allowing installation of slot machines in Baltimore City and four counties: Allegany, Anne Arundel, Cecil and Worcester (Chapter 5, Acts of 2007 Special Session, ratified Nov. 4, 2008). The State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency regulates this Maryland Video Lottery Program (slots gambling). The process by which licenses are issued to operate video lottery facilities in those jurisdictions, however, is conducted by the Video Lottery Facility Location Commission.
![[photo, Rocky Gap Casino Resort, Flintstone (Allegany County), Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/al/images/1198-1-06647c.jpg)
At this time, five State casinos operate in Maryland: Hollywood Casino in Perryville (Cecil County); Casino at Ocean Downs in Berlin (Worcester County); Maryland Live! at Arundel Mills (Anne Arundel County); Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Flintstone (Allegany County); and Horseshoe Casino Baltimore (Baltimore City). A sixth casino is scheduled to open at National Harbor in Prince George's County in 2016.
In 2008, the Education Trust Fund was established as a special nonlapsing fund, the money from which is invested and reinvested by the State Treasurer with interest and earnings accrued to the Fund (Chapter 4, Acts of 2007 Special Session; Code State Government Article, sec. 9-1A-30). From slots gambling revenue, the Education Trust Fund receives almost fifty percent, and the facility operators receiving thirty-three percent. The remaining funds are divided among horse-racing activities; small, minority and women-owned businesses; and operational expenses.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Information Technology began as the Electronic Data Processing, Research and Development Division, and reorganized as the Information Technology Division in 1997. It merged with Administration, Finance and Operations Division in 2014 to form the Administration, Finance, Operations and Information Technology Division.
The operation of data processing systems that support Lottery gaming activities is managed by Information Technology. It also provides technical assistance to the Agency, and develops and supports internal data systems, the local area network, and website infrastructure.
Four units comprise the Division: Casino Compliance; Casino Licensing and Background Investigation; Lottery Investigations; and Lottery Security.
Under the Division are three units: Auditing & Regulatory Compliance; Electronic Gaming Device Operations; Responsible Gambling.
AUDITING & REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
To ensure the integrity of casino gambling in Maryland, Auditing and Regulatory Compliance collects and reviews operational forms, financial statements, and statistical and performance data. It applies auditing standards to account for and safeguard assets and ensure that the operations, financial position, and cash flows of casinos are reflected accurately. To monitor compliance with internal control systems, Auditing and Regulatory Compliance also oversees field audits of casinos statewide.
ELECTRONIC GAMING DEVICE OPERATIONS
Electronic Gaming Device Operations manages project planning for the opening of casinos. This includes oversight of purchase, installation, testing, maintenance, and compliance to specifications of State-owned slot machines. To ensure maximum revenue generation for the State, the unit works with casino facilities to determine an appropriate mix of slot machine types on the gaming floor.
With casinos, the unit reviews slot machine performance, and seeks to ensure that facilities meet requirements for opening and continuing operations. It also oversees any slot machine conversions, movements, or changes.
RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING
The Voluntary Exclusion Program is administered by Responsible Gambling. Individuals who wish to ban themselves from Maryland casinos will be excluded from entering any facility, cashing checks, or using credit cards. Participants also are removed from all casino mailing lists and are not eligible for promotions, credit, or casino complimentary services.
In June 2005, the Product Development Division, the Creative Services Division, and the Research and Planning Division joined to form the Product Development, Creative Services and Research Division. In January 2008, the Communications Division was added to make the Product Development, Creative Services and Communications Division. In 2009, it was renamed as Creative Product Services and Communications. In July 2011, it joined with the Sales Division to form the Lottery Division.
The Division works to maximize Lottery sales throughout Maryland. It recruits new outlets and ensures that all locations have sufficient products and materials available for players. The Division informs the public and Lottery agents about new games, and monitors the compliance of retailers with Lottery Agency regulations.
Under the Division are four sections: Communications; Creative Services; Product Development; and Sales.
COMMUNICATIONS
Communications oversees Lottery drawings and functions, including: public and media relations; public affairs; second-chance drawings; promotions and special events; website services; and VIP Club initiatives. Annual reports, newsletters, and special publications are produced by the Division.
Under Communications are three units: Lottery Drawings; Promotions and Special Events; and Public Affairs.
CREATIVE SERVICES
Under the Division, Creative Services develops advertising strategies to achieve the sales and revenue objectives of the State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency. Creative Services evaluates the effectiveness of advertising in terms of reach, frequency, and impression on audiences. Advertising time and space for jackpot announcements, product introductions, promotions, and winner awareness are purchased by this section. To inform consumers about Lottery products, promotions, and programs, the section manages the development and production of advertising materials for television, radio, and print media, as well as at retail sales outlets.
Auditing and Regulatory Compliance was established as Casino Auditing under the Gaming Division in July 2011. It received its present name in September 2014.
Under the Gaming Division, Electronic Gaming Device Operations was organized in July 2011 as Video Lottery Terminal Operations It reformed under its present name in January 2014.
Responsible Gambling formed as a unit of the Gaming Division in July 2011. For persons who suffer from pathological or problem gambling, the unit provides education and connections to statewide resources to combat problems through the Maryland Alliance for Responsible Gambling.
LOTTERY DIVISION
The Lottery Division began as the Marketing Division, reformed as the Marketing and Advertising Division in 1997, and reverted to its original name - Marketing Division - in 1998. It reorganized as the Sales Division in 2001, and merged with the Creative Product Services and Communications Division to form the Lottery Division in 2011.
As the Public Affairs Division, Communications originated in 1997, and became the Communications Division in 2001. In January 2008, it joined with the Product Development, Creative Services and Research Division to form the Product Development, Creative Services and Communications Division. It reorganized in 2009 as the Creative Product Services and Communications Division. With the Sales Division it joined to form the Lottery Division in July 2011.
In 2001, Creative Services was initiated as the Creative Services Division. It merged in June 2005 with the Product Development Division and the Research and Planning Division to form the Product Development, Creative Services and Research Division. In January 2008, it reformed as the Product Development Creative Services and Communications Division, and in 2009 reorganized as the Creative Product Services and Communications Division. With the Sales Division it joined to form the Lottery Division in July 2011.
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