Oregon Revised Statutes

Or. Rev. Stat. § 461.500 (2026)

Lottery to be self-supporting; allocation of revenues

✓ current as of May 2026
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      461.500 Lottery to be self-supporting; allocation of revenues. (1) Except for such moneys as are necessary to temporarily fund the start-up of the state-operated lottery established by the Constitution of the State of Oregon and this chapter, the Oregon State Lottery shall operate as a self-supporting revenue-raising agency of state government and appropriations, loans or other transfers of state funds may not be made to it.

      (2) At least 84 percent of the total annual revenues from the sale of state lottery tickets or shares shall be returned to the public in the form of prizes and net revenues benefiting the public purpose described in Article XV, section 4, of the Constitution of the State of Oregon. At least 50 percent of the total annual revenues shall be returned to the public in the form of prizes as described in this chapter. All unclaimed prize money shall remain the property of the commission and shall be allocated to the benefit of the public purpose.

      (3) No more than 16 percent of the total annual revenues shall be allocated for payment of expenses of the state lottery as described in this chapter. To the extent that expenses, including the contingency reserve, of the state lottery are less than 16 percent of the total annual revenues as described in this chapter, any surplus funds shall also be allocated to the benefit of the public purpose.

      (4) For the purpose of ensuring the integrity, security, honesty and fairness of the state lottery, the Oregon State Lottery may use moneys allocated, as costs of administration, for the payment of expenses of the state lottery pursuant to subsection (3) of this section for expenses incurred to:

      (a) Adopt and implement rules intended to minimize problem gambling risks and mitigate problem gambling harms;

      (b) Advertise the availability of problem gambling treatment programs in this state, including contact information for the programs;

      (c) Collect and report data, and establish metrics, regarding problem gambling; and

      (d) Cooperate with or assist the Oregon Health Authority and providers of problem gambling treatment programs to the extent that the cooperation or assistance is consistent with the mission, described in ORS 461.200, to operate the state lottery so as to produce the maximum amount of net revenues to benefit the public purpose described in Article XV, section 4, of the Constitution of the State of Oregon, commensurate with the public good. [1985 c.2 §1(4),(5); 1985 c.302 §1(4),(5); 2014 c.56 §1]

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases, 1996–2000 · leading case: Denise M. Mills v. Hardy Myers, Attorney Gen. for the State of Oregon, 993 P.2d 807 (Or. 2000).
Denise M. Mills v. Hardy Myers, Attorney Gen. for the State of Oregon, 993 P.2d 807 (Or. 2000). “For example, ORS 461.500 requires that at least 84 percent of gross lottery revenues either shall be returned as prizes or devoted to the public purposes for which the lottery is authorized.”
Brummell v. Kulongoski, 921 P.2d 388 (Or. 1996). “) Oregon Laws 1996, chapter 14, section 2(14) (Special Session) provides: “ ‘Unobligated net lottery proceeds’ means all revenues derived from the operation of the state lottery except for: “(a) The revenues used for the payment of prizes and the expenses of the state lottery as…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 461.500(2) — 1 case
Brummell v. Kulongoski, 921 P.2d 388 (Or. 1996). “) Oregon Laws 1996, chapter 14, section 2(14) (Special Session) provides: “ ‘Unobligated net lottery proceeds’ means all revenues derived from the operation of the state lottery except for: “(a) The revenues used for the payment of prizes and the expenses of the state lottery as…”
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