Oregon Lottery working to end slump
In recent weeks, Oregon Lottery officials have installed 400 new casino-style slot machines in bars and taverns across the state in hopes of boosting player interest and ending a slump in lottery play.
Lottery Director Dale Penn said the plan is to install another 2,100 of the newer machines in retail establishments to replace some of the lottery's older-style video lottery terminals.
We're real hopeful that we can bring some players back and encourage others to play more, Penn said.
H ...
Sep 2, 2009, 5:54 pm - Lottery News forum
Maryland Lottery to tackle budget constraints with social media
The Maryland Lottery will rely more on social media and less on D.C.'s massive media market to tout its games as the state slashes its advertising budget.
The state agency said it will look at Twitter, Facebook and other online networking sites to save money after statewide budget cuts slashed its ad spending by $5.5 million. And instead of buying pricey ads on local television stations that reach the entire D.C. market, it may buy Comcast cable ads that target certain neighborhoods, lottery ...
Jul 31, 2009, 8:37 am - Lottery News forum
Proposed Mass. budget includes nonexistent lottery money
Issue highlights problem with budgeting based on speculation
When Massachusetts lawmakers approved a $24.7 billion state budget last week, they included $25 million in expected revenue from the multi-state lottery game, Powerball.
The trouble is, the state's bid to become a part of the game had been rejected and state Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill neglected to let legislators know.
To make matters worse, the inclusion of Powerball revenue in the state budget was based upon the notion that ...
Jul 29, 2009, 12:27 pm - Lottery News forum
Tenn. Lottery's Hargrove named chair of the Powerball Group
Rebecca Hargrove, president and CEO of the Tennessee Education Lottery, earlier this month was named Chair of the Powerball Group of the Multi-State Lottery Association.
In the position announced July 10, Hargrove will oversee the management and marketing of the brand, its budget, its rules and new membership.
A 24-year lottery industry veteran, Hargrove has served as the chief executive of four U.S. lotteries and was hired in 2003 to launch Tennessee's lottery.
The Multi-State Lottery ...
Jul 29, 2009, 12:16 pm - Lottery News forum
N.J. Lottery goes from zero to highest tax rate in the USA
Adding insult to injury, 11% taxes are retroactive back to Jan. 1
Local Mega Millions winner calls it Pathetic money grab , as feel-good story about workers' winning jackpot is transformed into an example of oppressive government that finds it easier to take from a few lucky winners than to stop wasteful government handouts and spending.
The limits of luck are becoming clear to Lynn Sellari, whose Cash 5 lottery ticket left her with a windfall of money in May.
Over the past few days, Se ...
Jul 2, 2009, 11:40 pm - Lottery News forum
Fla. Lottery to try vending machines... again
Construction worker Anthony Carey usually gets $50 worth of scratch-off lottery tickets once a week at the convenience store where he gasses up, but he says that'll probably change when Florida reintroduces vending machines later this year in supermarkets.
The first of 1,000 machines should begin showing up in mid-August and all should all be in place by the end of November.
Instead of just getting them when I'm putting in gas, I would be able to buy them basically anywhere, Carey said wh ...
Jun 5, 2009, 8:39 am - Lottery News forum
Conn. AG urges changes before allowing Keno
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal advised Connecticut legislators Monday to amend the state's memoranda of understanding with two federally recognized Indian tribes before attempting to legalize Keno in the state.
He said the proposal to bring Keno to Connecticut, suggested last week by Gov. M. Jodi Rell as a way to raise about $60 million a year in new revenue, could risk the $400 million the casinos provide the state annually in slot machine revenues.
Under that memoranda between the t ...
Jun 2, 2009, 6:48 am - Lottery News forum
N.J. Lottery to end live broadcast of midday drawing
Is $100,000 in cost-savings worth the loss of midday drawing broadcasts?
Beginning Friday, the New Jersey Lottery Commission will stop airing live drawings at 1 p.m. on the state's public television network in an effort to save money.
Only summaries of the results of the Pick 3 and Pick 4 lotteries will be shown on New Jersey Network at 1 p.m., the state Lottery Commission said today.
Video of the actual drawings will only be available on the commission's Web site.
The midday winning ...
May 11, 2009, 10:41 pm - Lottery News forum
Delaware House passes sports betting bill
The Delaware House has passed a sports betting bill that failed to win approval earlier this week.
After hours of closed-door negotiations, lawmakers convened early Friday morning to rescind Tuesday's roll call and vote on a revised bill, which won overwhelming approval.
The vote came after several hours of talks between Gov. Jack Markell and his staff and Republican and Democratic leaders in the House.
The proposed sports lottery and the money it would bring are key components in Marke ...
May 8, 2009, 8:57 am - Lottery News forum
Tennessee Lottery shortfall requires reserves
$10 million needed to fully fund scholarship grants for students
Are computerized drawings hurting sales? Will the Tennessee Lottery bring back real ball drawings? Why is Powerball always blamed for poor financial showing in Tennessee?
The state of Tennessee probably will have to pull about $10 million from reserves to keep lottery scholarships fully funded this year, budget officials said after reporting a revenue shortfall last week.
State Budget Director Bill Bradley said the state w ...
May 4, 2009, 6:35 pm - Lottery News forum
