Newspaper editorial in favor of authentic lottery drawings

Jan 16, 2008, 11:24 am (15 comments)

Editorial / Opinion

Lottery balls are preferred

The Leaf-Chronicle
Clarksville, Tennessee

Wednesday, January 16, 2008 

People do not completely trust computers. They may use them for work and for pleasure, but they don't have absolute confidence in them or in those who program them.

When it comes to the state lottery, confidence was shaken more because of a malfunction regarding the lottery's new random-number-generating computers. For weeks last summer, the Cash 3 and Cash 4 games would not produce repeating digits, such as 1-1-2 or 3-3-3-3, as winners.

The problem later was blamed on a computer coding error. The broader impression this left with Tennesseans is the machines could be programmed to pick — or not pick — certain numbers.

A bipartisan effort is under way in the state Legislature to force the lottery to return to using numbered balls to select winners for the two games. The balls are seen as having more credibility when it comes to random picks.

Gov. Phil Bredesen, who previously supported the move to computer-generated numbers, said he wouldn't stand in the way of a change back.

House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh said during a press conference, "If the balls dropping gives the people a better comfort level that it's being run right, then I think that's where we ought to go." He also said he doesn't understand the lottery's contention that it would cost $5.5 million to return to the balls.

Rebecca Hargrove, the lottery's chief executive officer and president, has said the savings largely come from not paying television stations to broadcast the drawings.

The lottery right now has a $400 million surplus. If it would truly would cost $5.5 million to ensure the integrity of the game, that would be money well spent.

The lottery also could recoup the investment because more people might play the games if they had a higher trust level in them.

Leaf-Chronicle

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jarasan's avatarjarasan

Balls rule!

RJOh's avatarRJOh

"Rebecca Hargrove, the lottery's chief executive officer and president, has said the savings largely come from not paying television stations to broadcast the drawings."

If it cost money to have the drawings open and upfront so players can see the fairness of the results themselves, why have any drawings at all, even with the computers if the goal is to save money?

GASMETERGUY

"Rebecca Hargrove, the lottery's chief executive officer and president, has said the savings largely come from not paying television stations to broadcast the drawings"

 

But are not TV stations playing the cartoon drawings?  Does that not cost money.  What is the difference?

CARBOB

Quote: Originally posted by RJOh on Jan 16, 2008

"Rebecca Hargrove, the lottery's chief executive officer and president, has said the savings largely come from not paying television stations to broadcast the drawings."

If it cost money to have the drawings open and upfront so players can see the fairness of the results themselves, why have any drawings at all, even with the computers if the goal is to save money?

Slowly, but surely she can see the writing on the wall. "her cash cow is going to dry up"!!! She will tap dance until the elected officials put a stop to it.

 

"the savings largely come from not paying television stations to broadcast the drawings."

What's the difference in cost between showing ball drawings or computer drawings???

four4me

Rebecca Hargrove does not have to have every TV station in Tennessee record the live drawings they can have one station record the drawing and have the other stations use a little pop up window and display the drawing numbers. This opens up and opportunity for certain TV stations to bid on whom will record the live drawing. After reviewing the bids she could negotiate a contract with them for x amount of years and at the end of the term run another bidding war.  

I thought she was creative enough to do this already. In fact the whole drawing process needs to be updated in a similar fashion like all the other states that conduct ball drawings.  I do know it will take some time negotiating with the big corporations when sports programs are running because they don't like to have their broadcast being cut into however i have seen live drawings here in Md when there were games and they used a stand alone pop up window in the lower right hand corner of the screen and showed the drawings taking place.

nobie23's avatarnobie23

Hey Littleoldlady and KyMystikal Clarksville finally mad the map Hurray!

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

I wish Idaho would get rid of computer drawings with our Pick 3 and other games.

LOTTOMIKE's avatarLOTTOMIKE

its simple....

                   i'm the prime example.i'm that person who played faithfully every day for three years here in tennessee UNTIL they quit with the ball drawings.i was one of your diehard players hargrove and always liked you and then you pulled this RNG stunt.i'm sure there are hundreds just like me who are patiently waiting for you to butt the hell out and bring the balls back.then you need to respecfully resign your position because your ideas aren't very creative anymore.thanks.

BobP's avatarBobP


The TV stations might not want to bid to broadcast the lottery drawings, but I'm sure at least one in each market will want to be the Official Lottery Station that shows the draws while the other stations must make due with a pop box on the screen.  If none of the media wants the draw it isn't shown there, too bad.  Shouldn't cost any more then what they're showing now, except for paying the model, the studio should already be part of lottery headquarters or someone messed up again.   BobP
 

four4me

Quote: Originally posted by BobP on Jan 18, 2008


The TV stations might not want to bid to broadcast the lottery drawings, but I'm sure at least one in each market will want to be the Official Lottery Station that shows the draws while the other stations must make due with a pop box on the screen.  If none of the media wants the draw it isn't shown there, too bad.  Shouldn't cost any more then what they're showing now, except for paying the model, the studio should already be part of lottery headquarters or someone messed up again.   BobP
 

In Maryland WJZ used to have the lottery drawings now WBAL has it, from what i understand WJZ's contract expired and WBAL got the contract however it's done someone got the contract. Several other stations have a little pop up window and display the numbers that were drawn.

The way Hargrove describes it leads us to believe that the lottery is paying every TV station in Tennessee that broadcasts the lottery numbers and all I'm saying is they don't have to go that route. She should negotiate a deal and get on with the business at hand pleasing the people and making money for the state. Not showboating at every opportunity's and causing rifts with the people and the elected officials. If people aren't happy with the way the lottery is being conducted in Tennessee then the elected officials should right the wrong and get the ball drawings back on target.

LOTTOMIKE's avatarLOTTOMIKE

i made a personal promise to myself that the very day they ever bring back the ball drawings i'm going to drop a hundred dollars on my favorite pick 3 number.i won 5 grand on that number back in the early days of the TN lottery and i would love to smash the bank on it even though thats a long shot.i've seen where virginia players on the virginia website have hit for that much.50,000 dollars would be a nice payday.oh but man all those stores i'd have to go to......Wink

psykomo's avatarpsykomo

Quote: Originally posted by jarasan on Jan 16, 2008

Balls rule!

for...............NOW>>>>

BUTT......not for

long if G-Tech and othr's continue to sell the lottery director's of

"YOUR">>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>STATE LOTTERY!!!

the crooked>>>>>>>>RNG!!!

(note: it is not that hard to put a PATCH on CHIP/your own $##'s)

Don't Lettum CUT YOUR BALL's OUT!!!

LOL ^^!^^PartyPartyWhite Bounce

PSYKOMO 

psykomo's avatarpsykomo

Quote: Originally posted by psykomo on Jan 18, 2008

for...............NOW>>>>

BUTT......not for

long if G-Tech and othr's continue to sell the lottery director's of

"YOUR">>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>STATE LOTTERY!!!

the crooked>>>>>>>>RNG!!!

(note: it is not that hard to put a PATCH on CHIP/your own $##'s)

Don't Lettum CUT YOUR BALL's OUT!!!

LOL ^^!^^PartyPartyWhite Bounce

PSYKOMO 

BRO Todd:

would U could U 

print-UP sum G@@D XXXXX bumper sticker

against the RNG crap!!!???

PSYKOMO       Jack-in-the-Box     CryingBig Grin AngelCrying       Let It All OutBananaLet It All Out


psykomo's avatarpsykomo

Quote: Originally posted by psykomo on Jan 18, 2008

BRO Todd:

would U could U 

print-UP sum G@@D XXXXX bumper sticker

against the RNG crap!!!???

PSYKOMO       Jack-in-the-Box     CryingBig Grin AngelCrying       Let It All OutBananaLet It All Out


I Agree!LeavingLeavingPukePukeJack-in-the-Box   Jack-in-the-Box

Mail For YouThinking of...Mail For YouThinking of...

 

   

thank's for....help on BUMPER STINKER

 LOL>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>STOPP>>>>>>>>>>RNG!!!!!!!!!!

PSYKOMO 

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