The state of Idaho and the Nez Perce Tribe have struck a deal that will return the sale of lottery tickets to the Nez Perce Reservation.

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter was at the Clearwater River Casino and Resort on Wednesday to sign a pact with Tribal Chairman Samuel Penney, making the agreement official.

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter comments

As far as the timeline for the lottery actually being up and running, Secretary of the Interior and former Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne has up to 45 days to approve the agreement, after which it has to be published in the National Register for 45 days before final approval.

The agreement comes after another record year for the Idaho Lottery that resulted in a dividend of more than $34 million.

Otter continues

Lottery officials say fiscal year 2007 marks the fifth straight year of posting a new record for dividends. Since its inception in 1989, the Idaho Lottery has returned 402 million dollars to public education and state buildings.