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Illinois lost $4 million by halting Powerball, Mega Millions salesNews Story
llinois lost nearly $4 million by shutting down Powerball and Mega Millions ticket sales because of the state budget impasse, a lottery official said Friday. Lottery chief of staff Jayme Odom said the state lost about $2.4 million in revenue from Powerball and $1.5 million from Mega Millions during the ticket-sales hiatus. She said it's unclear whether sales have recovered since they were reintroduced Thursday night. Late last month, the lottery announced it would halt sales of Powerball a
Jul 10, 2017, 8:40 am - Lottery News

Illinois Lottery resumes selling Mega Millions, Powerball ticketsNews Story
By Todd Northrop The Illinois Lottery has resumed sales of Mega Millions and Powerball tickets now that the state's budget stalemate has concluded, lottery officials said. The state stopped sales late last month of the popular Powerball and Mega Millions games due to its inability to contribute to the prize pool without a budget in place. Illinois Lottery Acting Director Greg Smith announced Thursday night that sales have resumed. The Illinois Lottery is pleased to announce that sal
Jul 7, 2017, 10:42 am - Lottery News

N.J. Lottery remains operational during state closureNews Story
By Todd Northrop Even though the New Jersey state government has closed due to a budget impasse, the state lottery remains fully operational. During the closure, the sale of all games offered by the New Jersey Lottery will remain available for purchase. The game drawings for all online games offered through the Lottery, including Pick 3, Pick 4, Jersey Cash 5, Pick 6, 5 Card Cash, and Cash4Life, will be conducted, posted on Livestream and aired on television, PHL17 and PIX11, as per sta
Jul 1, 2017, 12:23 pm - Lottery News

Washington Lottery to shut down if lawmakers can't agree on budgetNews Story
Winners will be unable to claim prizes during shutdown Washington's Lottery will suspend all operations if lawmakers can't pass the state's operating budget by midnight on Friday, June 30, 2017. That means no Lottery tickets will be sold, and no winning tickets will be redeemed in the state of Washington for any game until the shutdown is over. This includes Scratch games, jackpot games and multi-state jackpot games such as Powerball and Mega Millions. Washington's Lottery will also
Jun 30, 2017, 8:01 am - Lottery News

Illinois Lottery to again delay large payouts due to budget woesNews Story
Powerball and Mega Millions going bye-bye too Illinois Lottery players should prepare for a bit of deja vu with a twist if Illinois leaders don't pass a budget by Friday night. Not only will the popular Powerball and Mega Millions tickets be off the shelf, but also any big winners of any of the other draw or instant games will have to wait to collect their cash. The Illinois Lottery announced Tuesday that, without a budget or any special legislation, it won't be able to pay anyone winni
Jun 27, 2017, 7:40 pm - Lottery News

Mississippi lottery panel visits neighboring states to garner informationNews Story
Trips to neighboring states to observe their lottery operations have shed light on the types of decisions that must be made should Mississippi opt to enact a lottery, two Northeast Mississippi legislators recently said. Reps. Mac Huddleston, R-Pontotoc, and Nick Bain, D-Corinth, made trips to Little Rock last week as members of a task force created by House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, to study the issues surrounding the lottery. Other members of the committee made a similar trip to Baton
Jun 25, 2017, 9:55 am - Lottery News

Lottery vending machines in Kansas may depend on whether lawmakers show up MondayNews Story
Your ability to buy lottery tickets from vending machines in Kansas may depend on how many lawmakers show up for the ceremonial last day of the session Monday. A bill allowing the Kansas Lottery to use vending machines to sell tickets was vetoed by Gov. Sam Brownback last week. The Legislature approved House Bill 2313 earlier this month with margins far greater than the two-thirds needed to override the veto. The House passed the bill 98-19; the Senate passed it 34-4. But because the fi
Jun 22, 2017, 5:47 pm - Lottery News

Pa. seniors worry expanded gambling will hurt lottery proceedsNews Story
A bill passed in the Pennsylvania House would allow casino-style gambling in airports, veterans halls, and truck stops. Now, seniors are worried if it were to become law, that less lottery money would fund programs for the elderly. They are not the only ones who are concerned. There are 18,000 people in the state who are employed by casinos like Mohegan Sun in Plains Township. Opponents of the bill say those jobs could be cut if it were to become law. The bill to make electronic games o
Jun 22, 2017, 7:55 am - Lottery News

Illinois lottery players may lose Powerball and Mega Millions at the end of JuneNews Story
Legislation's refusal to deliver balanced budget threatens to cut off popular multi-state games The association that runs the popular Powerball lottery and Mega Millions games will drop Illinois at the end of June without a budget agreement. Concern over the state of Illinois' fiscal condition prompted that decision by the Multi-State Lottery Association, according to internal Illinois Lottery communications. Illinois Lottery spokesman Jason Schaumburg on Thursday morning confirmed that
Jun 15, 2017, 3:52 pm - Lottery News

New Mexico reduces college scholarships funded by lotteryNews Story
Lottery given minimal flexibility to increase sales College scholarships funded by New Mexico lottery proceeds will cover 60 percent of tuition costs for the next school year down from 90 percent as state education officials announced changes Wednesday aimed at stretching dwindling revenue for the financial aid program. The lottery-based scholarships help pay tuition for about 26,000 students at public universities, four-year colleges and two-year community colleges throughout the state. N
May 31, 2017, 3:58 pm - Lottery News