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Calif. lottery 'winner' didn't buy ticketNews Story
The rags-to-riches story of Jaime Chavez Ramos has a new plot: He has signed over a $10 million SuperLotto jackpot to Benjamin Garcia, whom Ramos identified as his cousin.Four days after telling reporters that he was an instant millionaire, Ramos, who lives in the Fresno area, told lottery officials that Garcia actually paid the $1 for the winning quick-pick ticket at Church Market in Calwa.He then signed documents that legally turned the jackpot over to Garcia, said Norma Minas, a Lottery spoke
Mar 1, 2004, 3:57 am - Lottery News

Red Apple Workers Still Wait for Mega Millions Lottery WinnerNews Story
Customers bringing jokes about the lottery could expect a tough crowd at the Red Apple Country Store.Chances are, the employees have already heard it.Somebody, somewhere, holds a special ticket that could bring an end to the wisecracks.A week ago today, the Red Apple sold the second-most valuable individual lottery ticket in history.The winner of the $239 Mega Millions Jackpot, drawn Saturday, still has yet to come forward, meaning the comical copycats still are prowling.Were having a lot of the
Feb 27, 2004, 4:26 am - Lottery News

Minnesota Lottery audit finds high costs, no crimeNews Story
The Minnesota State Lottery spends more money and provides less to the state than comparable lotteries and should revisit its ties to the St. Paul-based marketing company Media Rare Inc., auditors reported Thursday.Legislative Auditor James Nobles released the audit of the lottery about three weeks after former Lottery Director George Andersen died, apparently by suicide. Andersen had met with auditors about the review the day before he was found dead. We found many things to question and critic
Feb 20, 2004, 6:36 am - Lottery News

Mega Millions Jackpot Raised to $222 MillionNews Story
As of 11:30 a.m. today, lottery officials for the Mega Millions game announced that -- due to solid ticket sales -- the estimated jackpot for Friday, February 20 has been increased to $222 million.If one winning ticket matches all six numbers in Friday night's drawing and the player has selected annuity payments over 26 years, the $222 million jackpot would amount to pre-tax payments of roughly:$8.5 million per year,$164,200 per week, or,$23,450 per day.For those who prefer to take their cash wi
Feb 19, 2004, 12:04 pm - Lottery News

British Lotto winner's legal problems growNews Story
Michael Carroll picked up his $18 million lottery check wearing a court-issued electronic tracing tag.And the longtime petty criminal's worries have only gotten worse since he became a rich man.Carroll -- dubbed the Lotto Lout in the British press -- recently pleaded guilty to drug possession. He also is accused of receiving $2,000 worth of stolen power tools. Those are just the latest entries on Carroll's long rap sheet, which includes brushes with the law both before and after his big win.Th
Feb 19, 2004, 7:30 am - Lottery News

Extensive Minnesota lottery probe underwayNews Story
Minnesota gambling enforcement agents have begun a sweeping investigation into the Minnesota State Lottery that likely will involve inspecting hundreds of contracts with vendors for any improprieties. It is expected to take months to complete. As far as I'm concerned, there are no boundaries, said Norm Pint, special agent in charge of the gambling enforcement division of the Department of Public Safety, which is conducting the probe.Pint said Wednesday that the investigation was prompted by the
Feb 19, 2004, 6:58 am - Lottery News

Lottery director's friend also tried to commit suicide, report saysNews Story
The state's finance commissioner had been actively reviewing the management of the Minnesota State Lottery when lottery director George Andersen committed suicide.Dan McElroy, who is now Gov. Tim Pawlenty's chief of staff, had found enough lapses to warrant a sharp letter to Andersen but he told reporters Thursday he didn't discover anything that suggested Andersen had done anything criminal. He said he isn't sure whether Andersen would have lost his job over the findings. I'm not aware of any a
Feb 13, 2004, 7:31 am - Lottery News

Need $150 million? Try for Mega Millions jackpotNews Story
Lottery players have another chance at the good life Friday night when the Mega Millions lottery jackpot reaches an estimated $150 million. I have to win before I decide what I'm going to do with the money, said Ju rez resident Salvador Reynoso, who buys five tickets for the drawing every week. I don't have any idea what I would do with that much money. The game has been attracting thousands of Texans and others in surrounding areas since it began in the state in December. People here have bee
Feb 12, 2004, 6:43 am - Lottery News

Husband, wife both buy winning lottery ticketsNews Story
It was a double dose of luck for one couple.Unbeknownst to each other, Richard and Lois Thomas each bought winning tickets from Kompak King, a convenience store in Parkersburg, for Thursday night's West Virginia Lottery Cash 25 drawing.Richard Thomas, 66, and Lois Thomas, 65, played the same set of numbers, based on family birthdays, on separate tickets purchased at different times. They discovered they were both winners Thursday night when they checked the tickets.The husband and wife each won
Feb 10, 2004, 6:51 am - Lottery News

Minn. lottery director helped steer business to friend's firmNews Story
The late director of the Minnesota State Lottery helped a friend's company keep a lucrative lottery contract, the Star Tribune reported on Saturday.George Andersen was found dead of an apparent suicide on Jan. 27, a day after meeting with auditors who were probing his relationship with the company, Media Rare. The public relations firm was founded by Andersen's friend Michael Priesnitz.Auditors have questioned several lucrative contracts that Andersen approved between the lottery and Media Rare.
Feb 9, 2004, 6:01 am - Lottery News