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Missouri Lottery Ignites Controversy with Computerized DrawingsNews Story
Lottery Post ExclusiveFalling in lockstep with a controversial industry trend, the Missouri Lottery decided to change its lottery drawings from mechanical lottery ball machines to a random number generator computer system.Opponents of the computerized drawings say that computers cannot achieve the true randomness of a physical drawing mechanism, mainly due to computers' inherent non-random properties.In addition, with computer hacking, viruses, and tampering on the rise, concerned citizens worry
Jul 21, 2004, 10:15 am - Lottery News

NJ lottery director nominated for Commerce roleNews Story
New Jersey Lottery Commission executive director Virginia Bauer will be nominated today to run the troubled Commerce and Economic Growth Commission, according to six McGreevey administration and business sources.Bauer is scheduled to meet privately with business leaders at Drumthwacket today before a news conference where Gov. James E. McGreevey is set to name her to replace the Rev. William Watley, who resigned Wednesday, people with knowledge of the nomination said.Bauer, 48, is an unexpected
Jul 16, 2004, 8:06 am - Lottery News

Casino deal leads GTECH to rethink R.I. investmentsNews Story
The company warns that it may not go ahead with its plans because bills before the General Assembly fail to provide it with a portion of the slot machines in a new gaming facility.Citing the casino legislation in front of the General Assembly, GTECH Holdings Corp. is reviewing its planned investments in Rhode Island -- including its proposed $88.5-million corporate headquarters in downtown Providence.GTECH says the two casino bills before the General Assembly do not guarantee that it can operate
Jun 24, 2004, 8:14 am - Lottery News

Are Computerized Lottery Drawings Truly Random?News Story
When the Powerball jackpot passes the point where greed justifies stupidity -- and, at $50 million, Saturday's drawing probably qualifies -- I've been known to hand the convenience-store clerk a $5 bill in exchange for a small slip of paper bearing five series of computer-selected numbers. Anything won that way, of course, would be the product of dumb luck. So when I don't win millions -- and I never have, or I wouldn't have to write this column -- I don't feel cheated. I've always been more
Jun 21, 2004, 7:28 am - Lottery News

Massachusetts Lottery relocates officeNews Story
The Massachusetts State Lottery Commission has settled into a new home on Fort Street, relocating the Western Massachusetts office to downtown after 20 years in West Springfield. We thought that 20 Fort St. - from an economical standpoint, from a leasing standpoint - was beneficial, said Joseph C. Sullivan, executive director. We think in the long run, it will be a better location for us. The newly remodeled 6,000-square-foot office will service 1,000 lottery agents in the four western countie
Jun 16, 2004, 7:07 am - Lottery News

Minnesota lottery cuts millions from budgetNews Story
Told to cut the fat, the Minnesota State Lottery has trimmed staff, closed offices and reworked or severed business deals to save millions of dollars a year.While the money represents a small share of lottery expenses, the savings will be welcomed by a state struggling to find ways big and small to avoid future budget deficits. The cuts and robust ticket sales mean that the lottery will send more money than ever to the state this year.The changes occur as state gambling agents appear to be in th
Jun 14, 2004, 8:32 am - Lottery News

Washington Lottery to Discontinue Televised DrawingsNews Story
The Washington Lottery said yesterday that it will not renew its contract to broadcast lottery drawings.The Lotto, Mega Million, Quinto, Lucky for Life, Daily Keno and Daily Game drawings have been broadcast on Television Washington, a statewide public affairs network, as part of a three-year contract.All televised drawings will end July 1.Lottery officials said the decision was based on research that found that less than 1 percent of players routinely viewed the televised drawings in order to f
Jun 9, 2004, 7:53 am - Lottery News

Maryland Lottery Adds Sunday DrawingsNews Story
The Maryland lottery is adding Sunday afternoon drawings for the first time in its 31-year history.The added drawings, which begin this weekend, are expected to generate an additional $5 million to $8 million a year. Lottery drawings are currently held twice a day every day except Sunday.Lottery director Buddy Roogow said the reason for a single nighttime drawing on Sunday is unclear. Probably there was concern - 20-some-odd years ago - about Sunday being a religious day, Roogow said.The after
May 20, 2004, 7:29 am - Lottery News

California Lottery wants changesNews Story
The California Lottery, for the first time since it was created nearly 20 years ago, wants to shrink the percentage of its budget dedicated to funding public education in order to boost prize payouts in scratch-off games -- a move officials say ultimately would increase sales and, in turn, money for schools.If the Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger approve, the portion of lottery sales spent on the state's cash-strapped school districts will drop from 34 percent to 26 percent. But suppor
May 19, 2004, 8:08 am - Lottery News

California Lottery Drops Gambling Themes IdeaNews Story
Citing widespread opposition, California Assemblyman George Plescia on Monday dropped lottery-backed legislation that would have added Nevada-style gambling themes to the state-run games.Though he quietly deleted the amendment, the San Diego Republican said he's pushing the rest of his controversial measure -- which would boost lottery prizes and slice struggling schools' share of revenue -- in the hope of fostering lotto mania that would then increase education's take.Even with the deletion of
May 18, 2004, 7:07 am - Lottery News