California Swears In New Lottery Commissioner

Ukau Dungca was sworn in as the newest California Lottery Commissioner on November 10, 2025, bringing a decade of law enforcement expertise to the state's gaming oversight body. Appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom, Dungca's addition to the five-member commission underscores a renewed emphasis on operational security amid growing lottery participation and jackpot pursuits. This leadership shift arrives as the California Lottery continues to channel billions toward public education, highlighting the commission's pivotal role in ensuring transparent and secure draws that sustain player confidence and revenue streams.

Key Takeaways

• Law Enforcement Boost: Dungca, a Sergeant with the California Highway Patrol since 2022, will leverage his background to enhance game integrity and draw security protocols.
• Education Funding Impact: The commission oversees a lottery that has contributed over $46 billion to California's public schools since 1985, with fiscal year 2024 alone adding $2.1 billion.
• Strategic Oversight: As one of five commissioners, Dungca joins in approving budgets and business plans to align with the lottery's mission of supplemental education financing.

The California Lottery Commission, established under the California State Lottery Act of 1984, holds ultimate responsibility for the agency's strategic direction, including the ratification of annual budgets, game rules, and vendor contracts. Dungca's oath, administered by Lottery Director Harjinder K. Shergill Chima during a commission meeting in Sacramento, marks a deliberate infusion of security-focused leadership into an organization that generated $9.2 billion in ticket sales for fiscal year 2024. Chima emphasized the appointee's value, stating, “His experience as a law enforcement officer will be invaluable to us as we prioritize the integrity of our games and our draw operation with the utmost security in mind.” This comes at a time when U.S. lotteries face increasing scrutiny over draw processes and prize distribution, particularly with multi-state games like Powerball and Mega Millions seeing record jackpots in 2025.

Dungca, who joined the Highway Patrol as an officer in 2009 after earning a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from California State University, Sacramento, fills a vacancy created by a prior resignation. His tenure aligns with broader industry trends toward fortified compliance, as regulators nationwide grapple with cybersecurity threats and demand for verifiable randomness in draws. The California Lottery, one of the largest in the U.S., supports K-12 education, community colleges, and other public programs without relying on general tax funds—a model that has drawn praise for its self-sustaining structure.

Industry observers note that commissioner appointments like Dungca's can influence innovation in game design and digital platforms, potentially accelerating mobile integrations seen in peer states. With lottery sales rebounding post-pandemic and contributing $2.1 billion to education in the last fiscal year, the commission's decisions directly impact funding for over six million students. Dungca's focus on security could pave the way for enhanced partnerships with technology providers, ensuring the lottery's role as a reliable revenue source amid evolving player demographics.

As California navigates fiscal pressures, this appointment reinforces the lottery's commitment to ethical governance, setting a benchmark for state-run gaming entities.

Sources:

• California State Lottery Press Release: New Commissioner Sworn In
• Popular Annual Financial Report FY 2024: Cal Lottery Financials