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Lawyer thinks Calif. participation in Mega Millions is illegalNews Story
According to one legislative lawyer, California's much-heralded entrance into the 11-state Mega Millions lottery may be illegal, even as outlets around the state prepare for the debut of the popular game.Lottery Director Chon Gutierrez was told by legal advisers when California joined Mega Millions that the move to revitalize the state's languishing lottery was legal because it advanced the education-benefiting cause of the voter-approved Lottery Act of 1984.Around the state, locations for buyin
Jun 15, 2005, 11:33 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

New Oklahoma Lottery Director Welcomes ChallengeNews Story
Jim Scroggins possessed almost every attribute state lottery commissioners were seeking.He had headed two other state lotteries, was articulate, and is regarded throughout the industry as an innovator whose openness to new ideas had paid huge dividends.It was an unexpected intangible, however, that pushed Scroggins over the top as the man to launch Oklahoma's lottery. He's a heartland guy, Lottery Commission Chairman Jim Orbison said.Raised in a southern Illinois farm town, Scroggins has spent
May 16, 2005, 11:03 am - Lottery News

Illionois lottery winner arrested on gun chargesNews Story
A northwestern Illinois man who is a member of a group that says it holds a lottery ticket worth $35.7 million was arrested Thursday on federal gun trafficking and drug charges.Eric Wagner, 32, of Freeport was indicted after a six-month undercover investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and several police departments. The federal indictment charges Wagner with eight counts of selling a firearm to a felon and eight counts of illegally distributing marijuana, polic
May 13, 2005, 9:51 am - Lottery News

Missouri Director hired to run Oklahoma LotteryNews Story
James R. Scroggins, the executive director of the Missouri lottery for the last 13 years, was hired Tuesday to direct the startup of the Oklahoma lottery.The vote was unanimous from the Oklahoma Lottery Commission to hire Scroggins, 61, at a base salary of $175,000 a year, plus $30,000 in one-time transition expenses.Scroggins also will get a bonus of $25,000 if instant lottery tickets go on sale in Oklahoma during October of this year and another $25,000 if online lottery games go on sale durin
May 10, 2005, 8:37 pm - Lottery News

'Prize closet' for Illinois Lottery employees discoveredNews Story
The Illinois Lottery solicited donations of MP3 players, airline ticket vouchers, video game systems and other goodies from radio and television stations it advertised with, then used the items to create a prize closet for lottery employees, a state audit revealed on Wednesday. During this engagement it came to our attention that the Lottery has operated a 'prize closet' dating back to 1989 and possibly longer, said Auditor General William Holland's report.According to the audit, a letter sol
May 6, 2005, 10:05 am - Lottery News

Mega Millions to change lottery game's game and prize structureNews Story
Updated: April 30, 2005, 8:10 amFirst drawing of new game set for June 24When California becomes the 12th state in which the Mega Millions multi-state lottery game is played, players across the country will see changes that will make it even more exciting.The addition of California as a Mega Millions state adds 35.9 million people to the population of Mega Millions states, which increases the 12-state game total to 155.1 million, an increase of 30%.Californians are expected to be as enthusiastic
Apr 29, 2005, 7:12 pm - Lottery News

Winners of $208 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot step forwardNews Story
Ralph and Mary Stebbins of Port Huron, Michgan have always wanted to travel, so they're using part of their third-largest-ever Mega Millions jackpot to buy a recreational vehicle.And then there's the cow.While mulling their options after winning the $208 million jackpot, Mary Stebbins mentioned her wish. She said, I want to buy a cow.' She just wants to buy a cow -- a show cow, said Bob Kolt, a media specialist from Okemos representing the family.Ralph Stebbins' wish list includes a garage to
Apr 29, 2005, 6:42 pm - Lottery News

Illinois man claims $37.5 million Lotto jackpotNews Story
Eric J. Wagner, co-owner of Wagner Hunting and Fishing, Freeport, is a little make that a lot richer after winning $37.5 million Monday in the Illinois Lottery.Wagner's father, William, said his son learned at about 9:30 a.m. Monday he had the winning ticket. Wagner was not available for comment this morning. He's going to take the rest of his life off, William Wagner joked.William Wagner said he didn't know what plans his son had for the money but probably intended to spend it. The winnin
Apr 27, 2005, 12:32 pm - Lottery News

One lottery ticket wins $37.5 million Illinois Lotto jackpotNews Story
A single player has won the $37.5 million grand prize from the latest drawing of the Illinois State Lottery's Lotto game.The only ticket to match all six winning numbers from Monday night's drawing was sold at a store in Freeport, a city about 30 miles west of Rockford.The grand prize for Wednesday night's Lotto drawing will be $2 million.In addition to the grand prize winner, 31 players matched five of the six winning numbers from Monday night's drawing good for second prizes of $933 apiece.Ano
Apr 26, 2005, 1:48 pm - Lottery News