Texas Lottery critic applies for Director positionPrevious TopicNext Topic

A lottery director job is to come up with ways to attract as many lottery players as possible and keep as much of their money as possible for the state treasure.  If Dawn Nettles can't do that better than the last guy then she shouldn't be given the job. Lottery directors don't feel sorry for lottery losers, they create them and Dawn Nettles must think she can do both.

Todd:

Your comments on thinking like a player would also work with our so-called public servants.  How many of our so-called leaders think like citizens?  How many even take the citizens needs and desires into account when making a decision.  If they would, it would be a much better world for all of us.

Orangeman                                     

Todd:

I bow to your experience along these lines.  I don't have much knowledge of the history of lottery directors and their backgrounds as compared to the success and failures of the directors with each set of qualifications.  My observation was only that.

RJOH:  Seemingly astute and valid points.

Orangeman:  The first priority of a leader is to cease thinking like a citizen and join the in-crowd.  Thinking like a citizen's the sort of thing to get you excluded from the cocktail parties.

Jack

I feel compelled to dive in here

First - I apologize to all for the tone of some of my earlier posts.  It was wrong and rude of me to call Ms. Nettles an idiot.  In addition, it doesn't matter how many years I've been in this industry or how much more knowledge I may or may not have - everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

If we were on speaking terms, I suppose I'd ask Ms. Nettles what she thinks qualifies her for the job.  How she answered it would tell me a lot.  She obviously doesn't think much of the staff people there - which calls into question whether she would follow their advice or tend to question it.  Most importantly, a Lottery Director has to be a good business person, and for a non-Lottery person to be successful, I believe they have to have enough personal knowledge to make the right calls when their staff doesn't.

What I've seen of her web site hardly inspires me (there I go again - but hey, I'm just making an observation) - so I have to question her overall business acumen.  What kind of formal credentials does she have?  What's her organizational management history?  Has she had responsibility for budgets?  Multi-million dollar budgets?  I mean, the Lottery is on its way to $4 billion in annual sales if they stick to their plan...why would anyone jeopardize that?  As Todd said so well, being a gadfly does not necessarily mean you could fix what's wrong you have to know what's really wrong and what's not and I don't think she knows.  Monday morning quarterbacking is easy...

As I explained to Todd (and may have posted earlier) she asked me once at a retailer forum (with a look like - "OK, now I'm gonna nail these guys in front of a whole room full of their retailers... Boy Oh Boy Oh Boy") why, with odds of 1:1000, Texas doesn't pay $1000 on the Pick 3 top prize.  I explained patiently that retailers have to get paid, that the State gets their share and that even the Lottery gets a cut to run the operation.  You (in general) take prize payout and multiply times odds - in this case, odds (1000) times prize payout (50%) equals $500.  If she didn't know that, how can she possibly operate the Lottery to maximize revenues for Texas????

What I'm saying is that if you're going to sling mud, you should know what you're talking about.  Even if you do know, you shouldn't be too over the top (hence my apology).  Given the level of knowledge she has displayed, she doesn't seem remotely qualified to be a product manager, let alone overseeing an entire agency with all of the disciplines involved.  Its highly unlikely that the staff - many of whom are extremely hardworking, knowledgable and dedicated to making it the best Lottery they can - would warm to the idea of reporting to someone who has done nothing but try to make their life more difficult.

Amen.

Drivedabizness,

I think your criticisms and mine are the same.  I think we're both saying she lacks the industry knowledge that is necessary.

I have no idea she made such an ignorant statement as she did about the Pick 3 game.  I used "ignorant", not "stupid", because that's exactly what that comment is.

I think it's great to have "watchdogs", and there are a lot of people who have been helped by many of Nettles' actions.  But I think I have voiced my problems with her as well.  She's not all-bad and she's not all-good.  Somewhere in between.  And I hope she gets the job -- it would be SO interesting to watch.

Todd

I agree with you that it would be interesting - I suppose watching a train wreck could be called interesting too.  :)

I'm cannot claim to be a neutral arbiter here - I've worked with these folks and oh by the way (for Orangeman)  I know and admit they have real problems with their lotto games.  I simply disagree that going back to 6/49 will make everything all yippy skippy.  Overall sales have been growing smartly and I htink they have a right to be proud of their record overall.  In my experience they challenge all opinions and really do try to do the right thing.  They are one of my favorite lotteries.

Sounds as though you're in a position to know what you're talking about.  I wonder that I've missed your earlier posts.

Thanks for the remarks.

Jack

Thanks - I really did get a good laugh at your first sentence!  I also enjoy reading your comments on the games.  Glad you're posting.

Seems she may have had her eye on the top position all along.  It's going to be interesting to see if she steers or floats.

Texas Lottery critic turns down selection committee post

You have an excellent memory, Konane.

Jack

You're the one that pegged it first in that thread. 

Maybe I should apply to run the NY Lottery. NY Lotto would pay back at least 50%; no more annuity-only scratch games; the Lose for Life scratches would also get cash options; Lotto and MM players would no longer choose cash/annuity UNLESS they win...

http://www.lottoreport.com

I use this site all the time...to pick my pick 3 numbers....her and someone name Don predict on that page... there good pickers...but this page updates everyone...she is truely a great canidate for the position...She is a lottery activist in my case....If the job is given to her i hope she can straigten things up in there...good luck to her...

Yup, that's who we're talking about.

They are good pickers?  I didn't realize that in addition to everything else she does, she finds time to predict numbers.  Busy lady.

I wonder how they would stack up to the other predictors here at Lottery Post if they posted their picks on the predictions pages.  Maybe someone will come up with her hit ratio and prize ratio.

She sounds like a jack of all trades:

• The ultimate administrator (Director)
• The ultimate watchdog
• The ultimate predictor
• The ultimate advocate

I think maybe she should consider running for public office next.