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Texas Lottery has history of jackpot overestimationNews Story
The Texas Lotto jackpot has fallen short of the amount advertised on three occasions since November because of lower-than-anticipated ticket sales, a lottery spokesman said Monday.Sales are running almost 26 percent behind last year's pace, said spokesman Bobby Heith, blaming the problem on increased competition for the Texas gambler's money.Overall lottery sales, including tickets for scratch-off games, are up almost 11 percent over fiscal 2004, he added.A longtime lottery critic filed a false-
Jun 14, 2005, 10:54 am - Lottery News

Texas Lottery considers changing jackpot calculationNews Story
Amid complaints of false advertising, Texas Lottery Commission officials will consider changing the way jackpots are paid.C. Thomas Clowe, the commission chairman, said the three-member panel will discuss this month whether to guarantee the advertised jackpot or continue basing the grand prize on a percentage of ticket sales.Clowe said Thursday that he is concerned that miscalculating the lotto jackpot could undermine confidence in the game. We want the public to have confidence in the lottery,
Jun 10, 2005, 12:30 pm - Lottery News

Texas Lottery Officials Halt Jackpot IncreaseNews Story
Texas Lottery officials won't boost the estimated top prize for Saturday's Lotto Texas drawing in the wake of accusations of inflated advertised jackpots.Lottery Post reported yesterday that the Texas Lottery has been accused of falsely inflating jackpots to drive ticket sales, leading to charges of false advertising.The Texas Lottery Commission says the estimated jackpot will remain at $8 million.A critic earlier sent a letter to Attorney General Greg Abbott accusing the commission of false adv
Jun 10, 2005, 12:53 am - Lottery News

Ticket machines on display for Oklahoma LotteryNews Story
On Wednesday, business owners who will comprise Oklahoma's main lottery ticket sellers filed the required applications and got a gander at machinery that may be used to sell Oklahoma lottery tickets.They had been waiting for this day since that November election night when Oklahoma voters enthusiastically endorsed a state lottery.Gas station and grocery store owners also had some questions for Jim Scroggins, the state's lottery director, and Scott Meacham, the governor's point man for the lotter
Jun 9, 2005, 1:20 pm - Lottery News

Texas Lottery accused of over-inflating jackpotsNews Story
The Attorney General's Office will examine allegations that the Texas Lottery Commission is inflating the advertised jackpots for its Lotto game because ticket sales are too sluggish to support the high payouts.Lottery officials rejected the allegations, but acknowledged that because of lagging ticket sales, for the first time in the game's history they would be unable to boost their jackpot estimate for Saturday's drawing if no one wins Wednesday night.Dawn Nettles, publisher of the online Lott
Jun 9, 2005, 11:48 am - Lottery News

Bill would reward Tenn. retailers for cashing lottery ticketsNews Story
Tennessee lottery retailers would also reap the benefit of a winning ticket under legislation that's moving through the General Assembly in its final days. The House Budget Subcommittee and House Finance Committee Monday passed a bill that removes the restriction prohibiting additional compensation to lottery retailers for cashing lottery tickets or shares.The legislation could be scheduled for a vote on the House and Senate floors one day this week.Lawmakers are hoping to adjourn by Friday.
May 24, 2005, 7:14 pm - Lottery News

NY takes $5 million from lottery winners for child support, welfareNews Story
New York lottery officials announced Tuesday that the state has taken nearly $5 million from thousands of lottery jackpots before they were released to winners and applied the money to owed child-support payments or to recover a portion of welfare given to winners over the last decade. The move is part of the state's Lottery Intercept Program that has diverted nearly $10 million in winnings to child support, and more than $25 million in winnings toward public assistance since it was adopted in 1
May 24, 2005, 6:38 pm - Lottery News

N.C. lottery supporters try to control expectationsNews Story
Lottery supporters in North Carolina are hoping to reach a compromise and get a bill enacted into law this session, possibly as early as next month.Supporters, however, want people to know that once a bill is crafted and signed into law, anxious lottery players won't be able to play the games in North Carolina overnight. In fact, it's more likely that it would be early 2006 before vendors start selling and players start scratching off lottery tickets. I hope that we would be smart enough to lear
May 23, 2005, 11:06 am - Lottery News

Ohio Lottery could be hurt by casinosNews Story
Lottery sales and Bingo revenue fell in Ohio counties nearest out-of-state casinos, raising concerns about the economic impact of such casinos coming to Ohio, according to a newspaper analysis.Public and private schools, animal protection groups, firefighters, the Roman Catholic church and other charitable groups benefit from about $600 million in Ohio Lottery profits and up to $90 million from bingo yearly.Supporters have estimated the state could get $500 million from allowing slot machines at
May 20, 2005, 9:36 am - Lottery News

Illinois Lottery Ad Contract Under ScrutinyNews Story
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said Wednesday she wants to know more about a $19 million advertising contract for the state lottery that was the subject of a critical audit earlier this month.Her questions center on the results of a report by Auditor General William Holland that shows R.J. Dale Advertising Public Relations had received $7.1 million to promote the state lottery, but could demonstrate only $2 million worth of work. We have reached out to the auditor general and we will b
May 18, 2005, 9:15 am - Lottery News