The Massachusetts State Lottery’s plans to launch its first-ever online lottery platform have been delayed due to a lack of funding. Despite online lottery being legalized in July 2025, the necessary $2.5 million in government funding has yet to arrive. As a result, the platform may not go live until April 2026, pushing back the original estimated launch date.
The Lottery has already identified potential platforms and game vendors for the online lottery and is in the process of selecting a consulting service to help with the platform’s growth. However, these efforts are on hold until the funding comes through.
The delay in launching the online lottery may impact the state’s budget, as $100 million of revenue generated from the platform was expected to go towards early childhood education and care grants in the fiscal year 2025 budget. With sales now projected to start in 2026, revenue likely won’t be seen until fiscal year 2027, causing a potential budget gap.
Despite the delay, the Massachusetts State Lottery remains optimistic about the online lottery’s revenue potential. The platform is expected to generate $70 million in revenue during its first year and could reach up to $360 million after a decade of operation. While the delay is disappointing, the Lottery does not anticipate negative impacts on its internal operations.
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