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Dear Lottery Retailer:
 The past year has brought with it some major changes for the Virginia Lottery. You have been selling new online games (Raffle and Fast Play Dodge Ball) as well as using new terminals and billing systems. However, there is one thing that remains solidly in place: the partnership between the Virginia Lottery and its retailers. That partnership has been the very foundation of the Lottery since the first ticket was sold on September 20, 1988.
Another change has brought me back to the Lottery. For nearly 10 years, I had the privilege of serving as the Virginia Lottery’s Director of Public Affairs. When I accepted a faculty position at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1997, I took with me a very high regard for the work you do every day for the Lottery. As a player during those years, I visited many of you to purchase tickets. Now, as Executive Director, I place a high priority on maintaining and growing our partnership to benefit your sales and our mission of helping Virginia’s public schools. When we work together, it is a win-win situation for Virginia.
In fiscal year 2008, Virginia Lottery retailers earned a record $77.7 million in compensation from Virginia Lottery sales. That helped raise more than $455 million for K-12 education in the Commonwealth. Since 1999, when Lottery profits were first designated for the sole benefit of K-12 public schools, our partnership has raised more than $3.8 billion for K-12 public education.
In October of 2007, you began using the new Altura terminal, featuring touch-screen technology. At the same time, the Lottery introduced a new billing system designed to make the accounting process easier and more efficient. I want to personally thank you for your patience as we work to insure the new system is 100 percent effective and efficient.
As our partnership continues to move forward, please be sure to read each issue of Play Book that your sales rep brings you. The Virginia Lottery produces that monthly publication for its retailers. You can also find a .pdf version of each issue in the retailer section on the Lottery’s Web site.
As the Virginia Lottery celebrates its 20th Birthday, there is one other thing that has not changed over two decades: its reputation as one of the best lotteries in the country. As a Virginia Lottery retailer, you have been a major part of building that reputation.
Sincerely,
Paula I. Otto
Executive Director |