Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine names Michelle Gillcrist as nominee for Lottery Commission Director

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has nominated Michelle Gillcrist as Director of the Ohio Lottery Commission. Gillcrist was named interim director in April. In a statement, Governor DeWine said: “Michelle Gillcrist has the right combination of management experience and visionary thinking to lead the Ohio Lottery Commission.”

Prior to her appointment as interim director, Gillcrist served DeWine in various capacities during his tenure as Governor, Ohio Attorney General and United States Senator, most recently as Governor DeWine's Northern Ohio Regional Liaison and the Governor’s Aerospace and Defense Liaison for Northeast Ohio.

Gillcrist has also previously served in government relations positions for MetroHealth, the Visiting Nurse Association of Ohio, the Cleveland Clinic, Battelle Memorial Institute and the Greater Cleveland Growth Association. She received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from John Carroll University and a Juris doctorate from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

Gillcrist's appointment as interim director following the abrupt resignation of Pat McDonald citing medical reasons. McDonald stepped down last month after serving the Ohio Lottery Commission for 16 years. He initially worked as a member and long-time chair of the Ohio Lottery Commission before being appointed as director by DeWine in 2019.

His departure came during a crucial period for the Ohio Lottery. The organization is preparing to rebid its central gaming system contract, valued at over $90 million every two years. It is working to resolve a long-standing impasse over the establishment of internet-based lottery gaming, or iLottery, in the state.