2022 Press Releases

Helene Keeley named Acting Director of the Delaware Lottery

Dover, DE — Delaware Secretary of Finance Rick Geisenberger announced the appointment of Helene Keeley as the Acting Director of the Delaware Lottery on Monday, August 1, 2022. She succeeds Vernon Kirk who served as the Lottery Director since 2011 and retired in July. Since 2018, Ms. Keeley has served as the Lottery’s Deputy Director overseeing finance, IT, application support, human resources, and security support services within the organization.

“Vernon Kirk is a living legend in the public lottery industry having joined the start-up staff of the Delaware Lottery at its inception in 1975. We wish him well as he starts this new chapter in his life,” said Secretary Geisenberger. “Helene Keeley brings decades of experience to her new role – both as an administrator and as a longtime advocate for Delaware’s gaming and equine industries. I’m excited to see how Helene continues to lead the Lottery in its mission to provide fun and engaging gaming opportunities for our customers while maximizing revenue contributions to the state’s General Fund.”

During her tenure as Deputy Director, Ms. Keeley lead pandemic initiatives to ensure Delaware Lottery players’ had safe access to gaming, guided efforts to ensure 24x7 technical support for Lottery operations and enhanced the Lottery’s partnership with the Delaware Council on Gambling Problems.

“I look forward to continuing the winning tradition of the Delaware Lottery,” said Ms. Keeley. “It’s an honor to be named Acting Director and I wish Vernon Kirk all the best in his retirement.”

Ms. Keeley retired from the Delaware House of Representatives in 2018, serving the 3rd District in Wilmington for 22 years. During her tenure, she served in numerous leadership roles including as House Minority Whip, Chair of the Capital Improvement Committee, Chair of the House Gaming and Parimutuels Committee, and Chair of the House Revenue and Finance Committee. On a national level, Ms. Keeley served as Chair of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States from 2014 through 2017.

Before joining the Delaware Lottery in 2018, Ms. Keeley worked for 14 years at the Delaware Department of Labor as a Community Relations Coordinator helping to connect workers and employers. Prior to that, Ms. Keeley was a Program Fundraiser with Junior Achievement of Delaware and a Global Project Manager with Rosenbluth International, a travel management company.

The Delaware Lottery thanks Vernon Kirk for his 47 years of service and welcomes Helene Keeley to her new role as Acting Director of the Delaware Lottery.

About the Delaware Lottery:
Since the start of operations in 1975, the Delaware Lottery has contributed $5.8 billion to the state’s General Fund to help finance needed state services that benefit everyone in Delaware. The Lottery offers a variety of games: POWERBALL^®, MEGA MILLIONS^®, LOTTO AMERICA^®, MULTI-WIN LOTTO, LUCKY FOR LIFE^®, PLAY 3, PLAY 4, Keno^®, Sports Lottery and Instant Games, iGaming, Video Lottery and Table Games. Delaware Lottery game and promotional details are available at delottery.com, at licensed locations, and from the Lottery’s office in Dover.

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