Nebraska Lottery Tickets Make Great Gifts, If You’re At Least 19

November 26, 2013 – During the holiday season, and throughout the year, the Nebraska Lottery suggests tickets as a gift option for those hard-to-buy-for individuals on your list.

Lottery Director, Jim Haynes, has something to add to that: “We always encourage players to play responsibly, and we ask them to give responsibly as well.  Nebraska Lottery tickets are a great gift idea, but they should only be given to recipients who are at least 19 years of age.”

By law, Nebraska Lottery tickets may only be purchased and redeemed by persons who are 19 years or older.

Three different Nebraska Lottery Scratch games feature a holiday theme: $1 Holiday Quick 7’s, a classic Nebraska Lottery game updated with holiday graphics; $2 Holiday Gifts, which can be used a gift tag; and $5 Naughty or Nice, which features prizes of cash and free Nebraska Pick 5 Lotto plays.

Haynes noted that each ticket, whether Scratch or Lotto, carries the minimum age (19) reminder, and the same message appears on all in-store signage as well as in broadcast and print advertising.  “No matter how clever or attractive a game may be, it should only be given to individuals who are of legal age to play,” said Haynes.

When you give Nebraska Lottery tickets, you’re helping to build a better Nebraska. A total of $499,378,857 in Lottery proceeds has been distributed since the Nebraska Lottery began operation on September 11, 1993.  

Amendment 4 passed by Nebraska voters in November of 2004 established the following distribution formula: Education as directed by the Legislature (44.5 percent) - currently divided between the Education Innovation Fund and Nebraska Opportunity Grant Fund; Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund (44.5 percent); Nebraska State Fair (10 percent); and the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund (1 percent, plus the first $500,000 in fund proceeds each fiscal year).

The funds' respective totals to date are:

Education Innovation Fund, $153,088,140;
Nebraska Opportunity Grant Fund, $74,444,214;
Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, $209,071,357;
Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund, $27,440,362; and
Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund, $11,873,788.

Every county in Nebraska has benefited from projects funded by Nebraska Lottery proceeds.