Texas Lottery Executive Director Gary Grief delivered the welcome address. It set the tone for the conference, which emphasized how innovative lotteries can do more with less.
“How do we continue to raise the bar without iLottery, ad budget, VLTs? The answer is innovation,” stressed Grief. “Texas Lottery has been a leader in innovation while staying within our legislative box. Texas was the first lottery to launch a $50 scratch game. We offer more games more often than any other state. We were the first to launch oversized tickets that the players love. Texas has launched innovative agent incentives. Texas is the only state that awards one third of the instant business to each of the major vendors each year. Texas is developing in-lane solutions that are now live with 1,500 Dollar General locations. We have upped our retailer base more in the last two months than in the last 10 years. With the limited budget, Texas Lottery has become better with less while keeping morale high. When I look at my team that I think is the best in the country, I remember that it is all about the people. The talent, drive and creativity are what keeps our industry growing.”