The Florida Lottery on Tuesday announced that it would adopt several safeguards to prevent fraud and protect players.
The announcement follows a Palm Beach Post investigation published Sunday that revealed that many players may be winning big prizes too often. It also comes as legislators consider taking more control of the lottery by placing it under a gambling commission.
The lottery will adopt software to track frequent winners in real time, roll out more self-checking terminals at its outlets and name stores where clerks have stolen winning tickets, lottery Secretary Cynthia O'Connell said in a statement to The Post.
"For us to succeed in our mission, we have to ensure that activities conducted by the lottery are transparent and free of fraud," she wrote.
Gov. Rick Scott, whose office oversees the lottery and appoints the lottery secretary, echoed her statement, telling The Post Wednesday: "I know the secretary of the lottery takes everything seriously and wants to make sure it's done properly and with transparency and we're going to make sure there is no fraud."
Sen. Maria Sachs, vice chairwoman of the Senate Gaming Committee and an advocate of more legislative control of the lottery, told The Post: "What your investigation has shown is that we need greater oversight."
The Post showed that about 200 people were defying lottery odds over the last decade to cash in tens or hundreds of winning tickets worth $600 or more. One Pompano Beach man was credited with collecting $719,000 from 252 winning lottery tickets in a six-year span.
Mathematicians calculated that nine of the 10 most prolific winners would have lost up to $2 million trying to win so many times.
In other states, such winning patterns have been found to be associated with criminal activity. Frequent winners in other states were found to have been store clerks stealing tickets from unsuspecting customers, "ticket cashers" who helped lottery winners avoid back taxes or child support and criminals using the lottery to launder money.
While The Post's analysis of public records couldn't determine whether crimes have been committed, the lottery, which could, was paying little attention.
Last week, the lottery acknowledged for the first time that it conducted undercover stings, an action The Post wrote is usually well-publicized in other states to deter theft or black-market sale of winning tickets.
In the stings, the lottery has agents pose as customers and ask clerks to scan their tickets to check for winners — a common request by customers.
They've caught 19 people stealing tickets, but never announced those arrests.
The Florida Lottery now will name the stores where clerks are convicted of stealing tickets. O'Connell said the move should deter clerks and give customers confidence in stores.
The lottery also will roll out more self-checking terminals. Only 54 percent of outlets have the machines, which let customers check tickets themselves, rather than relying on clerks, to determine if they have a winner. Other lotteries have found that some clerks lie to customers, telling them they had no winners while pocketing winning tickets.
O'Connell did not say how many more stores would get the machines.
In another change prompted by The Post's story, the lottery will adopt software to track frequent winners in real time.
Sachs, D-Delray Beach, has been an advocate of folding the lottery into a state gambling commission, which would be overseen by legislators and include all forms of gambling in the state. She said The Post's investigation further emphasized that need.
Sachs said that retailers should have greater scrutiny, also. The Post found six of the top 10 prolific winners were store clerks or owners.
Store clerks and employees can play the lottery without restriction. They can even play from behind the counter if the store allows it.
Some North American lotteries don't permit clerks and owners to play at their own stores.
"They can't be checking the tickets to see if anybody won. They can't be playing," Sachs said. "Your article, and previous articles, have shown that other states do it better."
Rep. Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, said that relationship creates a "perception issue."
"You shouldn't have the hand in the till. That's extremely awkward," he said.
The Post found that some lotteries place restrictions on its retailers. Ontario, one of the largest lotteries in North America, doesn't allow clerks and owners to play at their own stores.
California asks winners if they own or work at a store that sells lottery tickets. Florida doesn't.
But O'Connell did not announce any changes to the way store clerks and owners play or how they report their winnings.
Excuses, excuses, excuses. Tell us something we don't know already.
This problem is common to many states: where owners, clerks and their relatives are among the most prolific winners.
The problem is because "Store clerks and employees can play the lottery without restriction." THEY SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO PLAY!!!
It will continue to be a problem, and occasional stings and additional checking won't fix it. "They can't be checking the tickets to see if anybody won. They can't be playing," Correct.
But part of the problem is the greed of the lottery, not wanting to give up the additional revenue from stores/clerks playing. They probably think any negative impact of theft/fraud by clerks is more than offset by the additional sales. Players need to let them know where to stick that.
This is what they need to do:
"Ontario, one of the largest lotteries in North America, doesn't allow clerks and owners to play at their own stores."
Thank you Florida Lottery
Yawn...what's new?
I'm glad they're busting cheats!
What l would like to know is" Have any of these Cheating Vendor's ever won MM/PB jackpots?".. or have been flying below the radar.
Some of these Vendors have been feeding off the unfortunate players rightfully earned winnings like a Coyote feeds off a buffalo carcass **
I saw The Post's investigation and it said that when they confronted the top winner (the guy who won on 252 tickets), he had no clue what they were talking about and says he has never won. The IRS is coming after him for taxes on winnings too. He wasn't a clerk, but the store he used to hang out at all the time was one of those that were shut down.
I played the lottery every day when I worked in a liquor store selling tickets back in the 90's. My boss would always buy the "mistake" tickets. Of course the bad apples always upset the cart sooner or later. Too bad.
The lottery sounds like it's turning into a casino...throwing out people who win too much,lol. Cheating and scamming people out of their wins is one thing but if you're a "lucky" player who happens to win often then I guess you're under the eyeball too.
Maybe some of these players winning systems will be exposed and they'll lose their edge.
NOW LETS SEE A POWERBALL JACKPOT WIN IN NORTH CAROLINA. FOUR
YEAR DROUGHT HERE.
God forbid if people win.....we cant have winners.........lol.
Everyone here is trying to "crack the code". If you do, don't do it in Florida. But then, if you do it legitimally it's not cheating.
Right? But try telling them that...
This isn't a news story. Just adding to this story. Todd don't suspend me
check dis out
Great story, although I am more concerned with implementing computer drawings.
According to their posts some here have already "cracked the code", it's just that they haven't won big enough for anyone to notice or care.
The Lottery always investigates when people actually win or should I say collect money from them.I would like to see actual $ amounts the Lottery gives back to each city and State and then see the $ amounts to Schools and any other service supposed to be getting these amounts and where that money actually goes.Because the Schools are always complaining there is no money for anything and as far as roads and bridges can't see any money going there either.But we will never see this happen.
COMING SOON !
To A Favorite Lottery Game Near You
SMART PLAYERS
Robert Walsh; Peter St. Pierre; Gail Howard; Steve Player; Keith Price; Daniel Morrissey; Splinter-Cell
BEWARE !
Your friendly neighbor Lottery Commission is watching you !
Good a.m. all!
Hey, I didn't forget the guy! But what strategy does he actually use besides beating the winning numbers into submission by playing lots of dollars??
NICE STORY
KEITH was already investigated
Yay! It's PB day today. If I win I will buy me an original Norman Rockwell oil painting if not, I'll ask my father...hehehehe
I have a few Steve Player systems myself lying around here somewhere, but mostly for JACKPOT GAMES!
Keith investigated?? The tactic must have worked because I haven't seen him holding one of those large payout checks from the Kentucky Lottery Commission in a while now.
i need a math professor for sum mine
WOW really, maybe best just to buy many tickets TO cash at the store keep a lower profile.
Is there a Joan Ginther in the house ??
Whoops! I'm in Saudi Time, it's Friday today, MM day!...hehehe
In this corner Fla. lottery -VS- The player ,.......at the sound of the lottery machine ,...lets see who cheats best,....................
That news story reminds me of Colorado Lottery Investigates 21-Time Jackpot Winner Tadeusz Krupa
Last night, still have jet lag...hehehe
yeah i know the feeling the time difference gets to me also i fly all the time
I hate jet lag!
He only play pick 3. Now he cashes his tickets at gas stations as he always did
He used to cash in tickets at office to get checks for future promotion
Of his website
Who is Keith?
An american lottery player. From Kentucky.
That plays pick 3 as his dayjob
A well documented winner
Ky pays $600 for a straight also.
Most states only play $500
Most his wins are box. But he sometimes play them for $10-$20
So how can he able to cheat and beat the system?
What a way to earn a living.
Cheat.......NO! Strategy for beating the system.......YES!
I'm sure that Keith along with the others I mentioned in an earlier post with the exception of perhaps Gail Howard (only JACKPOT GAMES) has cracked the Pick 3 Lottery Code.
Thanks for posting this about Keith. I always thought that he purposely accumulated his winnings to get his picture taken down at Lottery Headquarters holding that big fat $5,000 - $7,000 lottery check. It was impressive as you alluded to but it certainly draws attention from the investigators. I'm glad he wised up.
What's the answer to that old question "How do you eat an elephant".......A little bit at a time !
Hehehe...he's not what we call..."attractive to women." No offense.
Maybe the lottery needs to create a teller machine, like an ATM to disperse winners monies to them! Anything under 500.00 dollars down to 2 dollar win will give you your winnings! If it's over 500.00 then of course you need to go to the headquartes to cash in!
I was thinking the same way.
"We want only frequent losers to play. If you win frequently, there has to be something wrong!!!"
I like this idea too. :)
It's a tossup whether Florida or Louisiana is the most corrupt state in the country. Some days Louisiana leads, other days Florida catches up and passes.
Now, now, young lady. Local celeb. getting paid and getting laid.