Lottery Post: Latest Lottery News

N.J. Lottery goes from zero to highest tax rate in the USA

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:40:42 GMT

In a move sure to infuriate lottery players who have loyally played its games since 1975, the state of New Jersey has instituted a retroactive state tax on lottery winners that could see some people paying up to 11% of their prize to the state.

New Jersey, Financials, Legislation, Taxes, Government

Arkansas Lottery Commission votes to join Powerball

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:46:43 GMT

The Arkansas Lottery Commission voted Wednesday to join the multi-state Powerball games, tickets for which may go on sale in the state as soon as this year, the state's lottery director said.

Powerball, Starting a Lottery, Arkansas, Multi-State Game

New Hampshire crushes lottery winners with new 10% tax

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:11:19 GMT

The day before a massive 10 percent state tax on lottery prizes went into effect in the Granite State, two winners claimed separate $1 million jackpots -- something never before witnessed by a 20-year veteran of the lottery.

Winner Stories, Financials, Jackpots, Gambling, Scratch Games, Taxes, New Hampshire, Casino, Budget

Ohio Lottery operator switch has some glitches

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:41:31 GMT

A new company began running the Ohio Lottery's computer system on Wednesday, causing frustrating problems for some retailers and leaving some winning tickets incorrectly coming up as losers.

Ohio, Vendors, Error, Systems Problem, Technology, Ticket Machine, Intralot, Operations

Oklahoma Lottery starts daily drawings of Cash 5 game

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:41:19 GMT

Beginning tonight, July 1, the Oklahoma Lottery will conduct daily drawings of its Cash 5 game.

Oklahoma, Changing Game, Pick 5, Drawing

Two winners to share record A$106 million Australian lottery

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:00:03 GMT

A couple from Queensland state and a man from South Australia will share more than A$106 million (US$86 million) as the only jackpot winners in the nation's record lottery drawn last night.

Winner Stories, International, Jackpots, Winning Ticket Announcement, Australia, Record, Anonymous

N.C. lottery players looking for luck after $88M win

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:36:28 GMT

Lottery tickets have been selling like wildfire since Kings Mountain resident Jeff Wilson won $88.1 million playing Powerball, said Angi White, assistant manager of the Petro Express in Kings Mountain where the winning ticket was sold.

Powerball, North Carolina, Ticket Agent, Sales, Multi-State Game

Arkansas Gov. and new lottery director meet

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:39:24 GMT

The head of the Arkansas state lottery and Gov. Mike Beebe met for the first time Monday but didn't talk much about their differences on keno.

Powerball, Starting a Lottery, Arkansas, Keno, Director

Ohio Lottery switches to Greek operator Intralot

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:26:05 GMT

At 11:59 p.m. today, in an office park in Strongsville, state officials and a gaggle of computer technicians, some from Greece, will change how Ohioans get their lottery tickets.

Ohio, Technology, Ticket Machine, Intralot, Operations

Calif. man with 3 jobs wins $39M lottery jackpot

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:57:58 GMT

A man who works three jobs to support his family -- including one as a limousine driver -- has won a $39 million jackpot in California's SuperLotto Plus.

Winner Stories, California, Jackpots

$800,000 lottery ticket expires Wednesday

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:31:53 GMT

A winning lottery ticket worth $800,000 sold in Belton, South Carolina, expires this Wednesday, and the lottery has not heard from the ticket's owner.

Unclaimed Prize, Jackpots, South Carolina

Arkansas lottery director turns down $11,000 housing allowance

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:18:15 GMT

The incoming head of Arkansas' lottery, set to be one of the highest-paid lottery directors in the country, didn't take all the cash offered him.

Financials, Administration, Starting a Lottery, Arkansas, Keno, Video Gaming, Headquarters, Director

NY Lottery OKs video table games

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:39:59 GMT

The New York Lottery will permit state-run casinos to add video roulette, baccarat, craps and blackjack next year even if the Assembly fails to authorize the move.

New York, Gambling, New Lottery Game, Casino, Video Gaming

Lottery winners broke, busted

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:57:34 GMT

A $1 million lottery winner from New York and his wife are both in jail on drug charges, unable to afford bail.

Insider Buzz, Winner Stories, New York, Law Enforcement, Arrest, Crime

Quick decision: New Ark. Lottery chief recommends Powerball

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:13:11 GMT

The newly hired director of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery says he is recommending that the State Lottery Commission accept an invitation by Powerball to join the multi-state lottery known for its often soaring jackpots.

Powerball, Legal, Legislation, Starting a Lottery, Arkansas, Keno, Video Gaming, Multi-State Game

Self-described 'lottery freak' buys $88M Powerball ticket

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:20:47 GMT

Jeff Wilson, 27, has his "lottery freak" dad to thank for helping him win the $88 million Powerball. Wilson met the media Tuesday and talked about his winnings.

Powerball, Winner Stories, Jackpots, North Carolina, Multi-State Game

Georgia carpenter wins lottery twice in a week

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:38:17 GMT

One week after winning $1,000 in the Georgia Lottery, a 62-year-old carpenter struck it really big.

Georgia, Winner Stories, Jackpots, Scratch Games, Won multiple times

N.C. town abuzz over $88M Powerball lottery jackpot win

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:03:28 GMT

There was one question just about everybody in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, wanted answered Sunday: Who bought the winning Powerball ticket worth $88.1 million?

Powerball, Jackpots, Winning Ticket Announcement, North Carolina, Multi-State Game

$39M lottery ticket sold at Santa Cruz store

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:29:44 GMT

One lucky Californian is holding a SuperLotto Plus lottery ticket worth $39 million.

California, Jackpots, Winning Ticket Announcement, Ticket Agent

Arkansas Lottery targets Oct. 29 for first ticket sales

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:17:58 GMT

The Arkansas Lottery Commission set official target dates Friday for the first lottery tickets to go on sale: Oct. 29 for instant-win, scratch-off tickets and Dec. 14 for tickets for drawing games.

Starting a Lottery, Arkansas, Sales, Lottery Tickets

$200,000 Powerball prize awarded on day lottery ticket was set to expire

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:30:33 GMT

William H. Greer of Philadelphia is the winner of a $200,000 Powerball prize that was set to expire at 4:30 p.m. today.

Powerball, Winner Stories, Unclaimed Prize, Pennsylvania, Multi-State Game

Maryland Lottery teams up with Ravens

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:54:45 GMT

Maryland Lottery officials are gambling that Ravens football fever will bolster ticket sales when a new scratch-off is unveiled later this year, marking one of the first partnerships of its kind in the country.

Maryland, Scratch Games, New Lottery Game, Sports, NFL, Partnership

Arkansas Lottery hires away S.C. director

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:47:48 GMT

The Arkansas Lottery Commission has hired Ernie Passailaigue, the director of the South Carolina lottery, to lead the formation of Arkansas' newly approved lottery program.

Financials, South Carolina, Administration, Starting a Lottery, Arkansas, Director

Ohio Lottery facts and trivia as it turns 35 years old

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:01:19 GMT

Thirty-five years ago this summer, the newly created Ohio Lottery held its first-ever drawing, a public spectacle at Parmatown Mall that drew more than 1,000 people.

Mega Millions, Ohio, Anniversary, General Interest, Pick 3, Pick 4, Article

Euro Millions lottery winner is gardener and 'nice chap'

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:33:59 GMT

Onion-growing granddad Brian Caswell will jet to Rio and buy a flash car after claiming a £25 million (US$40.8 million) Euro Millions lottery jackpot.

Winner Stories, UK National Lottery, Jackpots, Euro Millions, Multi-Country Game

Recent checks of Iowa Lottery retailers find no fraud

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:14:45 GMT

Security checks at lottery ticket sale locations at about 200 locations statewide in recent months have revealed no improper payments of prizes to or by store personnel, Iowa's lottery chief told a panel of state legislators last week.

Iowa, Ticket Agent, Complaints, Investigation, Fraud, Audit, Illegal Activities

Colo. Lottery apologizes for $100 e-mail

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:19:07 GMT

On Tuesday, the Colorado Lottery sent out 3,700 e-mails to MyLottery subscribers telling them they had won $100, when in fact the e-mail was an error.

Colorado, Error, Systems Problem, Technology

Feds freeze online poker champ's winnings

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:20:14 GMT

Late last week, the federal government ordered five banks to freeze a total of $30 million in payments owed to the players from companies that process payments from two offshore gambling sites, according to the Poker Players Alliance, a group that represents the interests of the companies and players.

Legal, Online Gambling, Poker, Law Enforcement, Government

Husband, then wife, wins lottery

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 02:30:22 GMT

A week after a Georgia man won $5,000, his wife won a $1 million jackpot.

Georgia, Winner Stories, Jackpots, Scratch Games, Raffle-Style Game, Won multiple times

Lucky grandparents strike it big in Ga. lottery

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:35:36 GMT

The latest big winners in the Georgia Lottery have a combined 17 grandchildren between them.

Georgia, Winner Stories, Scratch Games

Internet gambling bill awaits house vote

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:51:02 GMT

Congress is moving closer to passing legislation that will relieve U.S. financial services companies from implementing bans on Internet gambling as the Payments System Protection Act (H.R. 6870) was approved by the House Committee on Financial Services and appears headed for a possible vote by the full House next week.

Legal, Legislation, Online Gambling, Government

Online poker group says gov't seized $30M in player payouts

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:45:07 GMT

In the latest skirmish in the battle over Internet gambling, online poker advocates say the government has frozen more than $30 million in payouts affecting thousands of players.

Legal, Online Gambling, Poker, Law Enforcement, Government

Virginia Lottery unveils Redskins scratch tickets

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:28:46 GMT

The Virginia Lottery and the Washington Redskins unveiled a new $50,000,000 "Redskins Mania" scratch ticket that will go on sale in August, in time for the start of the 2009 football season.

Virginia, Scratch Games, New Lottery Game, Promotion, Sports, NFL

Forgotten lottery ticket worth $250,000

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:00:12 GMT

A lottery ticket tucked away in a wallet for months turned out to be a winner, worth $250,000.

Mega Millions, Georgia, Winner Stories, Kentucky, Multi-State Game

N.Y. Lottery funds college scholarships

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:21:11 GMT

Proceeds from the New York Lottery are funding college scholarships for more than 1,200 students statewide.

New York, Scholarship, Education

IL Senator again pushes for online lottery ticket sales

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:55:43 GMT

One Illinois State Senator is pushing internet sales for the lottery to help ease the lines at stores, but some are not too excited about the idea.

Legal, Legislation, Illinois, Sales, Online Ticket Sales

Study finds wealthy counties get most benefit from Indiana Lottery profits

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:36:05 GMT

A newspaper's review of the Hoosier Lottery has found that while lower-income players disproportionately fund the lottery, the state transfers lottery profits disproportionately to the wealthiest counties.

Financials, Indiana, Education, Study, Investigation, Article

S.D. rancher claims $232M Powerball lottery jackpot

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 01:16:27 GMT

If this were a movie, nobody would believe it: A rancher struggling to eke out a living in one of the poorest corners of America claimed one of the biggest undivided jackpots in U.S. lottery history Friday -- $232 million -- after buying the ticket in a town by the name of Winner.

Powerball, Winner Stories, Jackpots, South Dakota, Multi-State Game

Wisconsin lottery winner will support family with winnings

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:09:42 GMT

A Marshfield, Wisconsin, man is a million dollars richer, at least before taxes, after winning the Powerball lottery.

Powerball, Winner Stories, Wisconsin, Power Play, Multi-State Game

Virginia high court rules that lottery must be accessible

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:30:19 GMT

Federal and state laws require the Virginia Lottery to ensure that its games are accessible to people with disabilities, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

Virginia, Ticket Agent, Trial, Court