New Minnesota lottery director brings fresh start
Clint Harris often uses the words trauma year to describe what happened at the Minnesota State Lottery in the months before he took over as executive director.George Andersen, who had run the lottery since its inception, had committed suicide shortly after learning that a state audit would reveal an unflattering picture of his management.Harris, at the time director of South Dakota's lottery, had close professional ties with Andersen and considered him a friend. When I came aboard, the staff h ...
Jun 20, 2005, 1:30 pm - - Lottery News forum
Key figure in MN Lottery probe dead; suicide suspected
A key figure in an ongoing criminal investigation over past contract practices of the Minnesota State Lottery has been found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, and gambling enforcement agents will attempt to determine whether his death is connected to the probe.Michael Priesnitz, 53, was found dead Thursday afternoon on the floor of a garage at his home in International Falls. He was shot once in the head with a shotgun found near his body, according to International Falls police. ...
May 2, 2005, 7:50 am - - Lottery News forum
Minnesota Lottery plans to add new game
Minnesota's new lottery director said the state will need to introduce a new lottery product if the lottery hopes to meet its revenue goals.The Minnesota State Lottery wants to double its revenue in the next 20 years -- from $100 million to $200 million by 2024.Lottery Director Clint Harris said to achieve the goal the lottery will need to collect about 4 percent more revenue a year. He said the current games aren't likely to generate that kind of growth.Harris said the lottery has sent a report ...
Nov 26, 2004, 12:21 pm - - Lottery News forum
Promotional Game Ruled Illegal
The Minnesota Court of Appeals on Tuesday ruled that a promotional game that offers up to a $250 cash prize is a form of lottery that is illegal in the state.The Appeals Court upheld a lower court ruling that determined the game, sponsored by Minnesota Souvenir Milkcaps, is really a lottery because customers pay for the chance to win a cash prize -- not for any tangible good.It's a misdemeanor to conduct a lottery in Minnesota.Attorney General Mike Hatch sued Minnesota Souvenir Milkcaps, and a R ...
Oct 13, 2004, 8:52 am - - Lottery News forum
N.D. Eroding Minnesota Lottery Sales
The North Dakota Lottery has taken a bite out of Minnesota Lottery Powerball sales in border cities, according to a Minnesota Lottery official.Still, sales of scratch tickets -- which are not sold in North Dakota -- have kept several Moorhead retailers near the head of the pack for overall Minnesota lottery game sales, research analyst Todd Maki said from state lottery headquarters in Roseville.Sales on both sides of the Red River remained brisk Wednesday as players bought numbers for Wednesday ...
Oct 8, 2004, 10:17 am - - Lottery News forum
Minnesota Lottery hires S.D. lottery chief
The nationwide search for a new director to lead the beleaguered Minnesota Lottery ended close to home Thursday with the appointment of Clint Harris, executive director of the South Dakota Lottery.Harris, 49, has led the South Dakota Lottery since 2000 and posted four consecutive years of record profits beginning in 2001. In fiscal 2004, the South Dakota Lottery produced more than $115 million for a state with a population of 738,000. That's due, in part, to its reliance on video gambling, with ...
Sep 24, 2004, 8:46 am - - Lottery News forum
Minnesota ticket wins record Hot Lotto jackpot
A ticket sold in Minnesota is the winner of a record $10.8 million Hot Lotto jackpot, lottery officials said Thursday.It was the only ticket to match the numbers 2-3-15-26-36 and the Hot Ball of 18 from Wednesday night's drawing.This is the fourth Hot Lotto jackpot won in Minnesota, the State Lottery said.The Hot Lotto win follows two recent Powerball jackpot wins in Minnesota. A Stillwater couple won an $11.1 million cash-option jackpot on July 7, and an Eden Prairie couple claimed the $53.1 m ...
Sep 17, 2004, 8:30 am - - Lottery News forum
Minnesota Powerball winner may appear today
It's likely that someone in Minnesota is already a multimillionaire. Check your tickets, folks, it could be you.A single jackpot-winning Powerball ticket worth up to $98.7 million was sold in Minnesota; it was the second time in the past two months a big winner was sold there.The winning numbers drawn Saturday night were 4-10-11-18-43 and the Powerball was 41. Only one ticket matched all six numbers.The jackpot is worth $98.7 million if the winner takes the annuity option, which would pay out $3 ...
Aug 16, 2004, 9:33 am - - Lottery News forum
Lottery lunch ladies still humble a year after jackpot win
It's been a year since the Holdingford, Minnesota lunch ladies struck the jackpot, literally, and they remain celebrities among school food service workers. But they're also still humble.Four of the 16 Holdingford schools employees who won half of a $190 million Powerball prize spoke Tuesday about being instant millionaires at the Minnesota School Food Service Association conference here.While they told of the new vehicles and other items they bought, the women still seemed humbled by the exper ...
Aug 5, 2004, 6:52 am - - Lottery News forum
Woman wins $1 million on Powerball lottery TV Show
Betty Davey feels like a million bucks, before taxes anyway.The Duluth, Minnesota woman won the $1,005,027 grand prize Sunday night on the Powerball Instant Millionaire TV game show.Although the show was taped at the end of June, Sunday marked a night of celebration as the 44-year-old certified nurse's assistant gathered with friends and family to watch the debut. I still feel nauseous, said Davey, who spent Monday afternoon playing by the pool with her grandchildren at Black Bear Casino and ...
Jul 20, 2004, 8:04 am - - Lottery News forum
