Massachusetts’ online lottery is getting off to a much slower start than lawmakers forecasted, which is creating some budgetary headaches.
When the Legislature passed a $58 billion state budget in July – nearly a month late in arriving on Gov. Maura Healey’s desk – top lawmakers touted the iLottery as a new funding source for child care providers, with sales estimated at $100 million in fiscal year 2025, which ends next June 30.
Treasurer Deb Goldberg announced a new timeline for the online lottery on Tuesday, saying the initiative will not launch until April 2026, near the end of fiscal 2026. She also said the new venture will bring in only $70 million during its first full year of operation, far less than the $100 million the state’s fiscal 2025 budget had been projecting.
