Montana Lottery director says agency is negotiating with incumbent vendor as commission and lawmakers press for RFP

At a Wednesday meeting of the Section 8 Appropriations Subcommittee, Director Brown said the Montana Lottery is negotiating with its current vendor and has not yet released a full request for proposals (RFP) for the statewide lottery contract, which the director said expires in March 2026.

The issue matters because the contract covers statewide lottery terminals, software and related services; Director Brown told the committee the vendor currently receives about "8 cents on the dollar" and the agency had been anticipating that fee could rise to about "12 cents" — an increase he described as roughly a "23-plus percent" change. "We are exploring those options, currently with our... the current vendor," Brown said, adding that negotiations are confidential and that any final contract would be voted on by the Lottery Commission.

The committee pressed Brown on timing and oversight. Senator Mandeville and other members pointed to a September Lottery Commission vote directing staff to prepare an RFP; John Metropoulos, a former lottery commissioner who addressed the committee during public comment, said the commission "took a…