Mega Millions lotto game cleared to begin

PIERRE — The South Dakota Lottery received final approval to offer the Mega Millions lotto game from the Legislature’s rules review committee Tuesday.

South Dakota already offers the Powerball jackpot game as well as several smaller lotto games.

Several legislators on the panel peppered Lottery Director Norm Lingle with questions during the hearing. No one else spoke in favor or against.

The legislators voted 6-0 to allow the rules to take effect.

Asked how much of a boost might be seen by adding Mega Millions, Lingle said, “That’s an interesting question.”

He said any estimate he would provide would become a benchmark by which sales would be measured as a success or falling short.

Nonetheless, he said an estimate would be “somewhere in the five to 10 percent of sales.” The 2009 Powerball sales were about $20.8 million.

Asked why the Lottery Commission chose Mega Millions, Lingle replied, “This is a proven game. It was the big jackpot game in the larger-populated states.”

He added that South Dakota will be able to compete with neighboring states selling the Mega Millions game. South Dakota sales are scheduled to start May 16.

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