Helping grow the New York State Lottery

Gweneth Dean has served as the New York State Lottery director since 2017 after helping market the Virginia Lottery for nearly a decade. Under her leadership, Dean has extended the New York lottery’s partnership with scratch-off game provider Scientific Games, offered lottery retailers new training to discourage underaged gambling and managed the operation of video lottery terminals at race tracks throughout the state. And lottery sales have grown from $7.9 billion in fiscal year 2011 to $10.6 billion during the previous fiscal year. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Can you explain what role the New York State Lottery plays with the state’s race track casinos that are not full-fledged commercial casinos?

In 2002, New York state authorized the operation of video lottery terminals at certain race tracks across the state. These lottery games are server-controlled and not traditional, standalone slot machines. The revenue produced is lottery revenue, is directed to education and distributed to school districts across the state.

The entire gambling industry in New York has undergone dramatic changes in recent years. How have each of these developments affected the New York State Lottery, directly or indirectly?

The advent of casinos, mobile sports wagering or horse racing in New York state has had minimal impact on the New York Lottery. For 60 years, the New York Lottery has become one of the most recognized brands in the state and has a large, dedicated and active player base that enjoys the various lottery games that we offer.

What other major shifts have you witnessed during your tenure leading the New York State Lottery? What has been the trend for lottery revenues over the years on your watch? 

Combined traditional lottery sales and video lottery revenue continue to grow each year (except for 2020 due to COVID-19), from $7.9 billion in 2010-11 to $10.6 billion in 2023-24. This underscores the excitement and staying power of the lottery’s games

Just in terms of some basic numbers, how many people bet through the New York State Lottery each year? And where does the bulk of that money go? 

Lottery products have various price points and individuals purchase an indeterminate number of products, making it difficult to gauge the number of people who play the lottery. The sales numbers and net win speak for themselves.

A coalition of organizations known as the Responsible Play Partnership, which includes the state Gaming Commission, state Office of Addiction Services and Supports and the New York Council on Problem Gambling, met last year to address problem gambling in New York state. What are the biggest concerns and priorities as the state moves to grant three new casino licenses downstate? How well is New York doing on that front, and what more should be done, if anything?

The New York Lottery is a division of the state Gaming Commission, which formed the RPP in 2013 to bridge the gap between gaming operators, problem gambling treatment professionals and regulators as more gaming opportunities became available in the state. Since then, the RPP has held dozens of events across the state with gaming operators to educate players and employees on the issue, as well as public service announcements and other campaigns. We are proud to work with the RPP to protect New Yorkers.