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Some lotteries see spike in sales growth amid pandemicNews Story
Not all lotteries mired in economic difficulty By Kate Northrop While some state lotteries are left trying to figure out how to make up for sales deficits in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, other states are experiencing surges in lottery sales inversely driven by the overall economic slump. With the closure of thousands of retailers across the country, players were generally limited in their ability to purchase lottery tickets out of convenience. Sales for the major Powerball and Meg
Jul 15, 2020, 10:43 am - Lottery News

Hoosier Lottery Executive Director Sarah Taylor elected MUSL PresidentNews Story
By Kate Northrop Sarah Monnett Taylor will take on a new responsibility as the Board President of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) for the 2021 fiscal year while continuing to fulfill her role as the Executive Director of the Hoosier Lottery. It is the first time anyone from the Indiana Hoosier Lottery serves in the role and marks the appointment of the 31st MUSL Board President. In 2013, she was originally appointed as the Hoosier Lottery's Executive Director by former Govern
Jul 9, 2020, 12:32 pm - Lottery News

Arkansas Lottery claim center closed after possible exposure to COVID-19News Story
Players must temporarily mail prize claims greater than $500 By Kate Northrop The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery took immediate action today after a possible exposure to COVID-19 at their facilities. As of July 6, 2020, the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery has temporarily closed its claim center at 124 West Capitol Avenue in Little Rock to rectify the situation. It is unclear how transmission of the virus may have occurred or who was potentially exposed. Out of an abundance of caution, we
Jul 6, 2020, 6:59 pm - Lottery News

Arkansas man left trembling after winning $1 million lottery prizeNews Story
One top prize left in scratch-off game after El Dorado resident wins big By Kate Northrop An El Dorado man has a huge reason to celebrate after becoming Arkansas' newest millionaire, thanks to a $20 scratch-off lottery game. Last Friday, FredTavious Davis was out driving with his wife when they made a fateful stop for gas at the Mobile gas station on N. West Avenue in El Dorado. He decided to head into the convenience store on a whim to buy a scratch-off lottery ticket so he could scrat
Jun 30, 2020, 4:26 pm - Lottery News

Skyrocketing scratch-off sales indicate lotto players are resilientNews Story
By Kate Northrop While ticket sales and jackpots are down for draw games like Powerball and Mega Millions, Americans have no problem finding entertainment in other lottery alternatives. Vendors have been selling tickets for multi-state games during stay-at-home orders, but customers are understandably reluctant to take the time to pick out numbers and hand cash to attendants while making essential shopping trips. Instead, quick buys like scratch-off tickets make great substitutions for the
May 14, 2020, 2:08 pm - Lottery News

Mega Millions to adjust starting jackpot amount, eliminate minimum increasesNews Story
The Mega Millions Consortium announced today that in response to flagging sales due to the COVID-19 response, the multi-state lottery game's starting jackpot has been lowered and the amounts of subsequent starting jackpots and jackpot increases will be determined on a drawing-by-drawing basis. The advertised Mega Millions jackpot for tonight's drawing is a guaranteed $121 million. If the jackpot is won, it will reset to a guaranteed $20 million for the next drawing on Tuesday. If there is no
Apr 3, 2020, 3:33 pm - Lottery News

Powerball to lower jackpot starting point and increases due to plunge in salesNews Story
Coronavirus strikes again Today the Powerball Product Group announced it is making changes to the multi-state lottery game's jackpot due to sagging sales caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus. Following the next grand prize win, Powerball's starting jackpot will reset to a guaranteed $20 million (annuity) with minimum roll increases of $2 million between drawings. Previously the starting point was $40 million, with guaranteed $10 million increases between drawings that did not produce a ja
Mar 25, 2020, 5:57 pm - Lottery News

Alabama lottery bill filed in House with 70 co-sponsorsNews Story
Alabama Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, filed an education lottery bill Tuesday with 70 co-sponsors that if passed would go to the ballot as a constitutional amendment for people to vote on. It would approve a paper-based lottery generating about $167 million each year according to Clouse. 50 percent of the proceeds would go toward the First Class Pre-K program and the other half for scholarships. Video lottery terminals would not be allowed. It's just time that we put this on the ballot agai
Mar 12, 2020, 10:48 am - Lottery News

Alabama governor reestablishes study group for lotteryNews Story
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey reopened the Governor's Study Group on Gambling Policy by signing Executive Order 719. I am committed to, once and for all, getting the facts so that the people of Alabama can make an informed decision on what has been a hotly debated topic for many years, Ivey said in a press release. Without a doubt, there will be ramifications if we eventually expand gaming options in our state just as there are costs associated with doing nothing. The purpose of the study group i
Mar 5, 2020, 12:13 pm - Lottery News

Arkansas Lottery plans boost in Natural State Jackpot to celebrate 10-year anniversaryNews Story
To celebrate its 10-year anniversary, the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery is planning a big boost in the Natural State Jackpot (NSJ) if it reaches $150,000 this week. The jackpot will jump to $200,000 Friday rather than its normal $150,000 if it hasn't been hit by then. The jackpot stands at $140,000 for Tuesday's drawing. The Natural State Jackpot is exclusive to Arkansas. Drawings are held Monday through Saturday at 8 p.m. CST. The jackpot starts at $50,000 and increases by $5,000 every draw u
Feb 19, 2020, 6:48 am - Lottery News