After being signed into law last fall, Mississippi is taking the next steps in establishing a state lottery.

On Friday, the Mississippi Lottery Corporation announced it was beginning to accept applications from retail stores to become vendors and approved retailers for the MLC.

Mississippi is starting with scratch-off games, which will be primarily sold in convenience stores, gas stations, supermarkets, grocery stores and tobacco/beer stores. Licensed casinos in the state are also applicable. The announcement comes after stores have contacted the MLC across the state.

“Over the last month, we have received a large number of calls from retailer operators around the state who are enthusiastic about coming on board to sell lottery tickets,” Tom Shaheen, president of the Mississippi Lottery Commission, said. “As the number of applications come in, our team will be working in overdrive to receive, process and validate the information.”

The first day scratch-offs are expected to be in approved stores is Dec. 1.

For retailers who are interested in applying need to visit mslotteryhome.com then click the “Procurements & Personnel” tab. The application cannot be transmitted over the internet but must be mailed to the MLC’s office in Flowood.

“The prospective retailers are not only coming on board to sell lottery tickets, but they are investing in the opportunity to drive more traffic to their store, increase for other store merchandise, receive support from a dedicated Lottery Sales Representative and ultimately assist in Mississippi in raising money to help fund infrastructure and educational needs,” Shaheen said.

The Alyce G. Clarke Mississippi Lottery Law was voted in when Mississippi Senate Bill No. 2001 passed and became law on Sept. 1, 2018.

In July, the MLC announced they were beginning to fill their 21-person staff ranging from Director of Compliance & Compliance Coordinator to Data Analyst. Those interested email resumes to opportunities@mslot.org or mail them to the MLC’s office.