ALBUQUERQUE –
The Board of Directors of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) has unanimously elected New Mexico Lottery CEO, David Barden, to serve as Board President. Barden’s term of office begins July 1, 2022. Barden has served as Chair of the MUSL Legal Committee since July 2020, and prior to that role served as Powerball Product Group Chair from 2018-2019, and Lotto America Product Group Chair in 2017.
MUSL is the non-profit association that assists its member lotteries in multi-jurisdictional game development, including facilitating the operation of the Powerball game. The game holds a January 2016 world-record jackpot of $1.586 billion. New Mexico has had five Powerball jackpot winners.
Reta Jones, New Mexico Lottery Board Chair, said, “This is a prestigious position for David Barden and a great honor for a state the size of New Mexico. For David to be recognized by his peers as an industry leader for his knowledge and expertise in the lottery industry is an extraordinary accomplishment.”
Barden looks forward to sharing his expertise to lead the group during ever-changing and challenging times. Barden said, “I’m honored and humbled to be chosen to serve as Board President. I hope to foster creativity, encourage change where indicated, and continue the work of my talented predecessors.”
North American lotteries have raised billions of dollars for good causes. Each state’s beneficiary programs are determined by that jurisdiction’s legislature and span a variety of issues including education and conservation.
About David Barden
David Barden was appointed CEO of the New Mexico Lottery in February 2014. With more than 21 years of lottery experience, Barden specializes in industry innovation that has maximized revenue returns for three US lotteries.
Barden previously served as the Vice President of Gaming for the Arkansas Lottery where he was responsible for the initial startup, staffing, and oversight of lottery operations. The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery is widely considered one of the most successful North American lottery start-ups in history. Barden’s lottery experience began in 2001 at the South Carolina Education Lottery for eight years, where he served as legal counsel and Director of Marketing and Product Development. As Director, he was responsible for the lottery’s online and instant games portfolio.
From 1996 through 2001, Barden served as Senior Staff Attorney for the Office of the Clerk for the South Carolina Senate. He also previously served as Assistant Director of the largest law enforcement agency in South Carolina, the South Carolina Department of Public of Safety, from 1993 until 1996.
David Barden graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of South Carolina and a juris doctor degree from the Ohio Northern University School of Law. He is married and has two children.
Lottery Beneficiaries
In New Mexico, 100% of net proceeds benefit education in New Mexico. Since 1996, New Mexico Lottery players have raised $944 million for education. More than 139,000 students have attended college on Legislative Lottery Scholarships.
Additional information about Legislative Lottery Scholarships is available at nmlottery.com.