Timothy P. Cahill, Treasurer, Receiver General Mark J. Cavanagh, Executive Director
For Agents

About The Massachusetts State Lottery Commission

The Massachusetts State Lottery was established by the legislature in 1971, in response to the need for revenues for the 351 cities and towns of the Commonwealth. To provide an operating structure for the Lottery, the Legislature established a five-member commission that includes the State Treasurer as Chairperson, the Secretary of Public Safety, the State Comptroller, and two gubernatorial appointees.

The Commissioners oversee and provide final approval of the types of games, the consumer prices of games, the prize structure of games, the methods of prize payment, and the licensing of agents.

The Lottery Commission meets on a regular basis to discuss all Lottery operations.

Learn more about the history of the Lottery

Timothy P. Cahill, Massachusetts State Treasurer and Receiver General Timothy P. Cahill
Massachusetts State Treasurer and Receiver General

Timothy P. Cahill serves as Massachusetts State Treasurer and Receiver General. He was sworn in for his second term on January 17, 2007.

As the Commonwealth’s Chief Financial Officer, Cahill brings a business-minded approach to managing the state’s finances and has implemented better business practices in the Treasury’s departments and affiliated agencies.

Treasurer Cahill’s accomplishments include:

  • Managing the Massachusetts School Building Authority, an independent agency created in 2004 that oversees all school construction financing. MSBA began with a list of 428 school projects awaiting completion and funding. Today, 350 of those schools are complete and $4.1 billion has been reimbursed to cities, towns and regional school districts, resulting in $1.4 billion in saved interest costs.
  • Diversifying assets of the state retirement fund (PRIT), which has increased over 77% since Treasurer Cahill took office, including growing over $20 billion since 2003. PRIM’s Economically Targeted Investment program has committed $160 million with investment firms that will create economic opportunity, jobs and housing.
  • Returning $3.7 billion in Lottery local aid to cities and towns in Massachusetts over the past four years.
  • Creating a Job Growth Initiative, which leverages Treasury resources and works with banking partners to create jobs and affordable housing in Massachusetts. To date, $1.25 billion has been committed, including $590 million of leveraged capital from the Treasury. The Job Growth Initiative has created 2,588 new jobs and has the potential to create an additional 8,100 new jobs over the next four years.
  • Conducting a thorough benefit verification process of the 51,000 retired public employees, which saved the Commonwealth over $400,000.
  • Finding $984 million in Abandoned Property and returning cash claims totaling more than $173 million, and using cutting-edge technology to hold two eBay auctions of unclaimed jewelry, coins and other items from safe deposit boxes, garnering over $330,000 for the state.

Prior to his election in 2002, Cahill served as Norfolk County Treasurer from 1997-2002, as a Quincy City Councilor from 1987-2003, and was a successful small business owner and the author of a book about local businessmen. He is a graduate of Boston University and a recipient of the 2007 Eisenhower Fellowship.

Treasurer Cahill lives in Quincy with his wife, Tina, and their four daughters.

Mark J. CavanaghMark J. Cavanagh
Director of the Massachusetts State Lottery

Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill appointed Mark J. Cavanagh Executive Director of the Massachusetts State Lottery, on January 15, 2007, making Cavanagh the ninth director in the Lottery’s 35-year history.

As the Lottery’s Executive Director, he is charged with the operations of over 400 employees, five regional offices, and the allocation of more than $4 billion dollars of annual revenue.

Prior to his appointment as Executive Director, Cavanagh served as Deputy Treasurer, overseeing the Abandoned Property Division, the Department of Debt Management and the Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust. During Cahill’s first term as Treasurer, Cavanagh guided the Abandoned Property Division to record successes. Over the past four fiscal years the Abandoned Property Division collected $883 million and paid out cash claims totaling more than $158 million - an 18% increase over four years. Cavanagh also oversaw an effort using cutting-edge technology to hold two eBay auctions of unclaimed jewelry, coins and other items from safe deposit boxes, garnering over $330,000 for the state.

“I have worked with Mark for four years, and am pleased to promote him to this position,” said Treasurer Cahill. “He has had great success with the Treasury’s Abandoned Property Division and as Deputy Treasurer, and I know he will continue that success at the Lottery.”

Before joining Treasurer Cahill’s administration in 2003, Cavanagh served as Vice President of Affiliated Computer Services, was affiliated with State Street Bank’s Unclaimed Property Services Division as manager of the Bank’s National Audit Program, and served as Deputy Treasurer and Director of Abandoned Property during a former Treasury administration.

Cavanagh holds a degree in accounting from Bentley College and a Masters in business administration from Babson College.