Lottery in Indiana began on October 13, 1989 with a 62% majority vote from in citizens of "Yes" on a 1988 voter referendum and six months later the Indiana General Assembly ratified the Lottery Act and Governor Evan Bayh signed it into law. On the first day of sales 8.19 million tickets were sold, it took less than a year for the Hoosier Lottery to repay its start up funding of $6 million. Many benefits have come from the Hoosier Lottery some of which include: lowering excise taxes for Hoosier citizens, increase pension and disability funds for Hoosier police and firefighters. The Hoosier Lottery has also helped to finance many other projects for the State of Indiana.