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State auditor general to audit Pennsylvania Lottery, with special focus on high-frequency winnersNews Story
State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale announced a new performance audit of the Pennsylvania Lottery Wednesday, with a special emphasis on studying the state-run gaming franchise's protections against being ripped off by players or retailers who are intentionally gaming the system. Last fiscal year, Pennsylvania Lottery players bought $4.5 billion in game tickets and claimed more than $2.9 billion in prizes, DePasquale said in announcing the new review at the state Capitol. Seniors, lottery
Dec 4, 2019, 3:32 pm - Lottery News

Longtime Mass Lottery employee fired for allegedly cashing unsold winning scratch ticketsNews Story
A longtime sales supervisor for the Massachusetts State Lottery was fired Tuesday after he was seen cashing winning instant tickets, a state official said, sparking fear that the lottery's supposedly strict security protocols may have been violated. David Cannistraro, a $100,000-a-year employee who had worked for the lottery since 2002, was first placed on paid administrative leave in June after another lottery employee saw him cashing tickets at a store on Cape Cod, said Chandra Allard, chie
Aug 23, 2019, 9:26 am - Lottery News

Former tribal lobbyist named as new California Lottery directorNews Story
California Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Alva Vernon Johnson to take over the the state's lottery Monday, after former director Hugo Lopez stepped down Friday amid investigations. Johnson, a former tribal lobbyist, takes over a department that has been been under scrutiny from the Department of Justice and the State Controller's Office since August, when anonymous employees sent a letter to former Gov. Jerry Brown alleging misconduct among senior executives at sales conferences. Johnson lobb
Jun 11, 2019, 8:40 am - Lottery News

California Lottery director resigns amid investigationsNews Story
California State Lottery Director Hugo Lopez is stepping down immediately, he announced in an email to lottery staff on Friday. Lopez has led the department since 2015. It's been under scrutiny from the Department of Justice and the State Controller's Office since August, when anonymous employees sent a letter to former Gov. Jerry Brown's office alleging misconduct among senior executives at sales conferences. Lopez in his message said he was proud of the department's performance, particul
Jun 10, 2019, 8:18 am - Lottery News

Audit of California Lottery finds over $305,000 in improper or dubious spendingNews Story
California Lottery officials tallied more than $305,000 in improper or questionable spending over the last four years that included travel, food, gifts to employees and entertainment expenses, a state audit concluded Tuesday. Among the improper expenses, the lottery agency spent $21,666 to give staff logo-branded swag such as T-shirts, backpacks, lip balm and iPad cases, labeling the purchases learning aids and training tools, according to the audit by state Controller Betty Yee. The finan
Apr 11, 2019, 9:32 am - Lottery News

California Lottery official dismissed amid investigationsNews Story
A senior California Lottery executive has been dismissed from his position six months after anonymous state employees sent a letter to the Governor's Office complaining about rowdy behavior among a group of the lottery's top brass. Deputy Director of Sales James David Cole's dismissal comes amid ongoing investigations into hiring practices and alleged misconduct by senior lottery executives during a 2016 sales conference. Cole was notified Feb. 1 that his employment would be officially ter
Mar 26, 2019, 9:23 am - Lottery News

New Jersey Lottery Million Dollar Replay $50,000 prize to be reselectedNews Story
The New Jersey Lottery held its Million Dollar Replay Grand Prize Drawing on March 8, 2019 at Asbury Park Convention Hall. A $50,000 prize winner from that drawing has been ruled ineligible and the Lottery will reselect that prize winner on March 20, 2019. The Million Dollar Replay game rules state that New Jersey Lottery agents are prohibited from winning any prizes in the Million Dollar Replay Drawing. A winner of a $50,000 grand prize in the Million Dollar Replay drawing on March 8 was ide
Mar 20, 2019, 9:02 am - Lottery News

Two Mexico lotteries set to mergeNews Story
In a bid to reverse its deficit Mexican lottery La Loter a Nacional para la Asistencia P blica (Lotenal) will merge with the other state lottery Pron sticos para la Asistencia P blica (Pron sticos). Lotenal which owes $540m in back taxes will merge with Pron sticos as it responds to the challenge set by President Andr s Manuel L pez Obrador, said the agency's director, Ernesto Prieto Ortega. It is a question of this decentralized body returning to the purpose for which it was founded in 1
Mar 11, 2019, 8:56 am - Lottery News

CT Lottery chief questioned by lawmakers over mishaps, computerized drawingsNews Story
By Jon Lender State lawmakers grilled Connecticut Lottery Corp. officials Thursday at a legislative hearing about long-running controversies including their alleged retaliation against former lottery security chief Alfred W. DuPuis, who says he was the victim of a vendetta for raising questions in 2015 about the fraud-plagued 5 Card Cash game, and their alleged lack of cooperation with the state Department of Consumer Protection that regulates them. On top of that, Rep. Joe Verrengia, D-We
Jan 25, 2019, 9:10 am - Lottery News

China lottery corruption probe sparks online outrageNews Story
China's government is attempting to downplay social media rumors that lottery administrators have embezzled nearly $20 billion from lottery proceeds. On Tuesday, the South China Morning Post reported on the frantic efforts by Beijing authorities to refute social media chatter that around RMB136b (US$19.5b) had been embezzled by corrupt lottery administrators. A popular meme blames this corruption for the inability of the average citizen to win a sizable lottery prize. The meme has its orig
Nov 14, 2018, 9:41 am - Lottery News