There are 39 lottery retailers in our district, which includes all of Stevens, Grant and the western half of Douglas (including Alexandria) counties, and they sold $4,162,521 in gross lottery sales. These retailers earned $261,583 in incentives and commissions, while $1,966,079 in prizes were redeemed in our district.

Lottery sales resulted in $299,701 being contributed to the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund; $97,819 being contributed to both the Game and Fish Fund and the Natural Resources Fund; and $623,129 went to the state’s General Fund.

One thing to keep in mind with these numbers is that they are sales within our district, but not necessarily all to residents. If someone works in our district and bought tickets here but lives somewhere else that is included, so are sales from people who may have just been passing through.

Lottery sales throughout the whole state were a record $450 million last year, which amounts to about a 10 percent increase over the previous year. This amounted to $32 million for the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund and $10.6 million each to the Game and Fish Fund and the Natural Resources Fun. The lottery also sends money to the state that is earmarked for programs to help people fight gambling addiction.

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Rep. Westrom is serving his sixth term in the Minnesota House. He can be reached at the Capitol by calling 651-296-4929, or by email at rep.torrey.westrom@house.mn. His office is located at 273 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.