From Babbitt to the Zumbro River, from the farms of southern Minnesota to Lake Superior’s North Shore, more than 100 projects received support this year from the Minnesota Lottery via the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF).
Here, there, and everywhere!
No matter where you live in Minnesota or what you do, lottery dollars are all around you! Every time someone says I’MN, we are playing our part by returning money back to Minnesota from Ada to Zumbrota. Since 1990, the Minnesota Lottery has played its part and generated more than $4.1 billion for programs that benefit our state. Every year, millions of dollars go back to Minnesota to improve state parks & trails, lakes, education, health care, and so much more. By preserving, restoring, and protecting our environment, it's how we all play our part. Say l'MN and learn more below!
Where the Money Goes
You play your part in giving back to Minnesota when you buy a lottery ticket. Every dollar spent on a lottery ticket makes an impact. Here’s the breakdown:
~61.1 cents is paid out in player prizes;
~13.1 cents goes toward the state’s General Fund;
~6.5 cents goes towards retailer commissions and incentives;
~7.2 cents goes towards ticket, vendor, and administrative costs;
~6.5 cents goes towards the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund;
~5.6 cents goes towards the Game and Fish Fund and Natural Resources Fund.
Lottery Dollars are All Around Us
The benefits of lottery dollars can be seen in each of Minnesota’s 87 counties. Since 1991, the lottery-funded Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund has provided approximately $1.1 billion to more than 1,700 projects around the state to help preserve, protect and restore our environment. Here's just a few projects that are making a difference for our communities.
Northeast
- Support Friends of the Boundary Waters wilderness education
- Understand Lake Superior
- Continued research for the Voyageurs Wolf Project
- Develop and expand Mesabi Trail
- Protect Minnesota’s moose populations
Northwest
- Protect Minnesota’s elk population
- Prevent aquatic invasive species
- Install community solar gardens
- Grow environmental education at Deep Portage Learning Center in Hackensack
- Expand Paul Bunyon State Trail
Central
- Expand Sibley State Park in Kandiyohi County
- Upgrade Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area in Aitkin
- Develop National Loon Center in Crosslake
- Restore pollinator habitat
- Protect Mississippi River in Stearns County
Twin Cities
- Expand and develop the Twin Cities Metropolitan Regional Park and Trail System
- Grow environmental education opportunities for youth through Wilderness Inquiry
- Restore Minnesota’s rusty-patched bumble bee populations
- Benefit Minnesota’s wildlife through the Metro Conservation Corridors Partnership
Southeast
- Restore trout streams
- Expand environmental education at Jay C. Hormel Nature Center
- Preserve Whitewater State Park in Altura
- Expand Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
- Restore native mussel population
Southwest
- Protect Minnesota’s prairies
- Harness cover crops for sustainable cropping
- Continue agriculture research to protect Minnesota’s farms
- Reintroducing American Plains bison to Camden State Park
- Develop Casey Jones State Trail
- Research modeling for floods and droughts
Fiscal Year 2024 Highlights
Learn about the Minnesota Lottery’s record-setting fiscal year, which earmarked our third highest sales year ever and our record return to our beneficiaries, in our 2024 Annual Report.
