Lottery proceeds īy Pennsylvania law, at least 40 percent of Lottery proceeds are required to be paid as prizes, with another 27 percent towards funding programs. The Pennsylvania Lottery sold its first tickets on Maand drew its first numbers on March 15, 1972. The Lottery was created by the Pennsylvania General Assembly on Augtwo months later, Henry Kaplan was appointed as its first executive director. The Pennsylvania Lottery is operated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.