Minnesota Lottery's modernization push to change how the state plays

The Minnesota Lottery has been a quiet constant in Minnesotans' lives for over three decades. More than $4 billion has flowed into state programs since 1990. The games are familiar. The retailers are neighborhood fixtures. So why is Executive Director Adam Prock tearing up the playbook?

The answer starts with something he didn't see coming.

A passion Prock didn't expect

Step into the role of Executive Director, and you expect to learn the numbers. What you don't expect is the emotional weight people attach to them. Prock explained:

I have always known lottery employees cared deeply about that mission, but what truly struck me once I stepped into this role was the remarkable passion Minnesotans themselves have for where lottery proceeds go.

He hears it everywhere — stories about trails, parks, and outdoor spaces touched by lottery dollars:

Everywhere I go, people want to share their own stories about how lottery dollars have improved their local parks, trails, or outdoor experiences. I understood the impact before, but I didn't fully appreciate just how strongly people feel connected to it.

That connection runs deep. And it raises the stakes for everything the lottery does next.

Why now?

Modernization at a state agency rarely happens by inspiration alone. In this case, a contract deadline forced the question. The Lottery's Central Gaming System carries a 10-year term expiring in 2027, triggering a required rebid under state procurement rules. The lottery issued a request for proposal and chose Scientific Games' cloud-based Momentum ecosystem.

The contract timeline made the decision necessary. What Prock and his team did with it made it meaningful.

What does "cloud-based" mean for the average player

Technology overhauls can sound abstract. Prock keeps it grounded:

For everyday Minnesotans, Scientific Games' cloud-based Momentum ecosystem means a modern technology foundation that supports reliable ticket purchases and strong system performance. Our current system has served the lottery well, and this modernization is about building on that success with enhanced security, greater flexibility, and more advanced features. The result will be an experience that continues to feel smooth, secure, and convenient for players and retailers alike.

The current system has done its job well. This is about making sure the next one does it better.

Keeping retailers and players whole during the switch

Of course, even the best-designed transition can go wrong. Prock is clear-eyed about the risk. He explained:

Our approach is to minimize risk through careful planning, clear communication, and hands-on support.

That means a phased, well-coordinated rollout, with retailers and players at the center of every decision. The goal is simple: nobody notices the disruption because there isn't any.

Get that right, and the door opens to something more exciting.

New ways to play

Two new channels are on the horizon: self-service kiosks and digital promotions. Prock noted:

Self-service kiosks let players quickly purchase tickets and check numbers at their own convenience, while digital promotions — enabled by platforms like Scientific Games' Momentum ecosystem — can include things like second-chance drawings or mobile-based engagement that extends the experience beyond the retail counter.

Together, they point toward a Minnesota Lottery that meets players where they already are, not where the old model assumed they'd be.

What five years look like

Zoom out and the picture gets sharper. Prock predicted:

A new cloud-based platform from Scientific Games will help better connect retail and digital channels, while also bringing improved in-store technology and better analytics.

A lottery built not just for today's players, but for wherever expectations take the business next. He added:

We are grateful for the strong foundation our current gaming system has provided us. As our business and player expectations continue to evolve, we're excited about the opportunities this next-generation platform will provide as we grow into the future.

That future, though, is only worth building if Minnesotans feel it belongs to them.

Playing our part

Which brings the story back to where it started: those $4 billion in proceeds and the Minnesotans who feel personally connected to every dollar. Most flows into the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, supporting parks, trails, restored wetlands, and public water access across all 87 counties. Prock noted:

Whether it's a nearby trail, a restored wetland, or improved access to a lake, Minnesotans are benefiting from lottery-funded projects right in their own backyard.

A 2019 urban tree canopy assessment is one example, part of a broader effort to study and protect Minnesota's forests, pollinators, turtles, and moose populations.

What many don't realize is how far the money travels. "Additional proceeds go to the General Fund, which funds education, roads, health, and other programs that reach across the state," he pointed out.

The lottery makes that connection explicit through its "Playing our Part" campaign: messaging across digital, social, and in-store channels designed to close the loop between a ticket purchase and real-world impact. Prock said:

Help people understand that when they play, they're not just participating in a game — they're playing a part in something meaningful for Minnesota's future.

The thing that drives it all

Ask Prock what stands out most from his time as Executive Director, and he doesn't mention a launch, a milestone, or a revenue record. He focuses on the people:

From those developing and launching new games, to our retail partners connecting with players, to the teams ensuring integrity and security behind the scenes, there's a shared sense of purpose that makes this work meaningful.

That shared purpose, between staff, retailers, and the Minnesotans who play every week, is what the modernization is really protecting. The technology will change. The mission won't.