From Referendum to First Ticket
Maine voters approved the state lottery by referendum in November 1973, and the Maine State Lottery began operations in 1974. Maine was one of the earlier state lotteries in the United States, launching with instant scratch-off games before introducing draw games in subsequent years.
The Tri-State Lottery Commission
In 1985, Maine joined New Hampshire and Vermont to form the Tri-State Lottery Commission — one of the first multi-state lottery compacts in the U.S. This partnership operates several shared games including Pick 3, Pick 4, Gimme 5, and the flagship Megabucks Plus. The compact allows three smaller-population states to offer larger prizes than they could individually, with a shared player pool and coordinated draws.
Revenue and Mission
Maine Lottery revenue benefits the state's General Fund and the Outdoor Heritage Fund, which supports conservation, wildlife management, and outdoor recreation programs. Since its inception, the Maine Lottery has returned hundreds of millions of dollars to state programs. The state levies a 7.15% tax on lottery winnings.
Key Milestones
- 1973: Voters approve referendum authorizing the Maine State Lottery
- 1974: Maine Lottery begins operations
- 1985: Tri-State Lottery Commission formed with NH and VT
- 1985: Megabucks launches as the Tri-State flagship game
- 2004: Maine joins Powerball
- 2010: Mega Millions becomes available through cross-selling agreement
- 2017: Lotto America relaunches with Maine participation
- 2026: Millionaire For Life replaces Lucky for Life
Megabucks Plus: The Tri-State Flagship
Megabucks Plus (5/41 + Megaball 1/6) has been the signature Tri-State game since the compact's formation. With a $1 million starting jackpot and odds of approximately 1 in 4,496,388, it offers regional jackpot excitement at far better odds than national games. The shared player pool across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont builds jackpots while maintaining favorable odds.
Impact and Legacy
The Maine Lottery has evolved from simple scratch-off games to a full portfolio of eight draw games spanning Tri-State regional games, multi-state jackpot games, and national mega-jackpots. For a full breakdown of every current game, see our ME Lottery Games Guide, or visit the Maine lottery dashboard for live results and analysis.