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Maine Gov. moves forward on controversial lottery planNews Story
As Republican lawmakers pressed for more details Monday, the Baldacci administration was fast-tracking its plan to sell off Maine's lottery revenue stream in order to help balance the state's two-year, $5.7 billion budget. Part of the state's efforts involve officials looking for outside help in pricing and structuring the lottery deal.Rebecca Wyke, the governor's chief finance officer, and Dan A. Gwadosky, executive director of the Maine State Lottery, told members of the Appropriations Committ
Mar 1, 2005, 2:39 pm - Lottery News

NH Senate approves $20 scratch ticket costNews Story
The New Hamprshire Senate joined Governor John Lynch on Thursday in endorsing a doubling of the top-priced scratch ticket cost.The bill (SB 20) would raise the lottery ticket cost from $10 to $20.The Senate passed it, 18-5, after no debate on the subject.Senate Majority Leader Robert Clegg, R-Hudson, said the Lottery Commission has committed to public service announcements that warn about compulsive gambling.Nashua Democratic Sen. Joseph Foster voted against the bill, the only one among the eigh
Feb 25, 2005, 12:15 pm - Lottery News

Support eroding for Maine Gov.'s lottery planNews Story
A Democratic state senator from Portland is breaking ranks with Gov. John Baldacci on the governor's plan to help balance the state budget by selling future lottery revenue. But it remains to be seen if that defection is isolated or the first sign that support is crumbling within the governor's party.Sen. Ethan Strimling, one of 19 Democrats in the 35-member Senate, said Wednesday he cannot support borrowing $250 million from an investor and repaying it by selling lottery revenue. Strimling said
Feb 10, 2005, 1:27 pm - Lottery News

N.H. lottery chief says $20 ticket price will not be high enoughNews Story
A doubling of the top-priced scratch ticket sold by the New Hampshire lottery would trigger increased sales for only the next two to three years, the states lottery chief warned Wednesday.Sweepstakes Commission Executive Director Rick Wisler advised lawmakers they could avoid a return trip by amending a bill and permitting the eventual top-priced ticket to go from $10 to $25.The lottery would go to the higher-priced ticket over a period of many years, he stressed.We manage our (top-rate) price p
Jan 27, 2005, 11:57 am - Lottery News

N.H. Lottery Proposes $25 Scratch TicketsNews Story
New Hampshire's lottery chief warned House and Senate tax experts Thursday that revenue will remain flat unless lawmakers agree to raise the price of instant scratch tickets.Sweepstakes Commission Executive Director Rick Wisler is asking the Legislature for permission to double the most expensive ticket - from $10 to $20.The change would generate $3.8 million more in the year ending June 30, 2006, according to Wisler.If the commission were to get permission to raise the price still higher to $25
Jan 14, 2005, 10:00 am - Lottery News

Maine governor defends lottery capitalization planNews Story
Maine Gov. John Baldacci pointed to several other states that have swapped future revenue streams for up-front cash Monday as he defended his plan to capitalize up to $40 million a year in lottery revenues for $250 million in the upcoming budget.The Democratic governor fended off criticism of his plan to sell a decade s worth of Maine lottery revenues to the Maine State Retirement System or other investor. It would help the state to increase public school subsidies while balancing a $5.7 billion
Jan 11, 2005, 7:43 am - Lottery News

Maine lawmakers suspicious of plan to borrow against lottery fundsNews Story
The G-word, otherwise known as gimmick, was invoked frequently Thursday as lawmakers learned that Gov. John E. Baldacci plans to borrow against a portion of Maine's state lottery revenues to balance a $5.5 billion, two-year budget.Not entirely unlike the governor's decision to lease out the state's retail liquor operations for $125 million two years ago, Baldacci reportedly is planning on exchanging the state's proceeds from online games such as Powerball and Megabucks with a Wall Street broke
Jan 10, 2005, 12:54 pm - Lottery News

Maine to use lottery proceeds instead of raising taxesNews Story
Maine Governor John Baldacci may draw from future lottery proceeds and delay pension costs as part of his approach to financing a new two-year state budget without raising taxes. Baldacci may also seek approval for changing some benefit standards in the state Medicaid program, which is known as MaineCare, to help cover a budget gap of about $740 million.Aides shied away from details and emphasized that the forthcoming budget package was subject to change. But planning for a Friday release to th
Jan 6, 2005, 11:09 am - Lottery News

Powerball Jackpot Jumps to $30 MillionNews Story
There were no Powerball jackpot winners Saturday but 406,997 players across the nation won a total of more than $3.4 million in prizes in America's Game.Because no one correctly matched all six numbers in Saturday's drawing the jackpot will grow to an estimated $30 million.The cash option for the Wednesday, December 22 drawing will be an estimated $16.5 million.The numbers drawn were: 1, 25, 29, 30, 45 and the Powerball was 12. The Power Play multiplier was 3.Three players correctly matched the
Dec 20, 2004, 8:42 am - Lottery News

Powerball Jackpot Soars to $95 MillionNews Story
There were no Powerball jackpot winners Saturday but 513,492 players across the nation won a total of more than $3.3 million in prizes in America's Game.Because no one correctly matched all six numbers in Saturday's drawing the jackpot will grow to an estimated $95 million.The cash option for the Wednesday, November 24 drawing will be an estimated $51.9 million.The numbers drawn were: 4, 29, 45, 48, 50 and the Powerball was 1. The Power Play multiplier was 2.Three players correctly matched the 5
Nov 23, 2004, 8:23 am - Lottery News