Texas signs contract with Mega Millions; game to begin soon
The Texas Lottery Commission on Thursday entered into a contract with the Mega Millions multistate lottery, which over the past year had average jackpots of more than $40 million.The commission next will begin purchasing equipment such as a random number generator to prepare for the launch later this year. The date hasn't been set, but executive director Reagan Greer said it probably will be after Thanksgiving.The long-term agreement has a six-month out clause, Greer said.The commission also ...
Oct 17, 2003, 5:08 am - - Lottery News forum
Texas may move to join Mega Millions today
The Texas Lottery Commission could formalize its decision to enter the multi-state lottery game Mega Millions today, a move expected to bring more than $50 million a year to state coffers.The three-member panel is scheduled to take action on a proposal that would allow lottery director Reagan Greer to sign a contract with the consortium of ten states that make up Mega Millions.Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia and Washington are the other ...
Oct 16, 2003, 3:48 am - - Lottery News forum
Texas lottery considers eliminating lotto balls
The familiar white, numbered balls that have determined the winners of hundreds of millions of dollars in Texas lottery prizes may get bounced. The Texas Lottery Commission is taking a first, cautious step toward using a computer to replace the rubber balls used since the games began in 1992.It's early in the conceptual stage, but lottery officials have looked at computerized random number generator systems that, linked with animations, are used by a handful of lotteries to pick the winning nu ...
Sep 15, 2003, 4:16 am - - Lottery News forum
Although couple apart for six years, both get lottery winnings
A San Antonio man and his common-law wife who have been estranged for six years face the prospect of splitting an $800,000 winning lottery ticket.Herman Mancillas and Patricia Trinidad likely will divide the winnings evenly when formal divorce proceedings take place in a few weeks. They broke off their relationship in 1997.Trinidad, 39, sued to split the money from last year's winning lottery ticket because the couple had not divorced. I'm just happy to be divorced, Trinidad told the San Antoni ...
Sep 11, 2003, 4:25 am - - Lottery News forum
Texas Lottery sales climb by more than 5 percent
Texas Lottery sales grew by the largest margin in six years, jumping 5 percent in the 2003 fiscal year, the Texas Lottery Commission said Monday. Sales were $3.13 billion for the fiscal year ending Aug. 31, compared to $2.96 billion in the previous year, said Reagan Greer, executive director of the commission. This represents the largest increase since 1997.Of the $955.2 million that was transferred to the state, $888.1 million went to the Foundation School Fund, Greer said.Another $67 million ...
Sep 9, 2003, 3:56 am - - Lottery News forum
Texas couple claims $49 million prize
Bryon Woods pleaded with his wife Barbara to sell him another $5 worth of lottery tickets at the store where she worked. Good thing she agreed. The Eagle Lake couple on Wednesday claimed a winning Lotto Texas ticket worth $49 million. After tearfully accepting an initial check of $2.9 million, the couple will collect $1.95 million every year for the next 24 years.Bryon Woods said he chose the annuity instead of the lump sum cash payment option because I intend to live another 24 years. I want m ...
Sep 4, 2003, 3:34 am - - Lottery News forum
Fortune smiles on lottery winners
Winning the Texas lottery is bound to change your life. It's why people play it. But some area winners say the changes aren't as radical as some might think. They have nicer cars and homes. They travel more and work less, but most still work at something.It was the best Christmas gift the Triple J NXS Trust could receive. Their numbers -- 8, 20, 47, 51, 40, 44 -- came in on Dec. 26, 2001.The payoff: $36 million.The triple J's are Jim Ater, Jennifer Willis Wyatt and Justin Pratz. The NXS refers ...
Sep 1, 2003, 7:52 am - - Lottery News forum
Employee accused of stealing $17,000 worth of lottery tickets
Teresa Lynette Guyton, 31, is charged with theft between $1,500 and $20,000, a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Authorities accuse her of activating, stealing and cashing an unspecified number of scratch-off tickets from the Copper Mart on Boonville Road.Guyton was arrested Wednesday and released from the Brazos County Jail later that day on a $15,000 personal recognizance bond. She could not be reached for comment Thursday.Copper Mart managers cont ...
Aug 15, 2003, 3:38 am - - Lottery News forum
Mega Millions Considers Multiplier
In the wake of Texas' choice to join the Mega Millions, the multi-state lottery game may be enhanced to include a multiplier option similar to the Powerball Power Play feature.The multiplier option is among the points to be negotiated before Texas officially becomes a Mega Millions member state. Powerball players can pay an extra $1 and if they win a lower-tiered prize, their winnings can be multiplied by up to five times. Rebecca Paul, a leader in the Mega Millions organization, indicated tha ...
Aug 5, 2003, 11:51 am - - Lottery News forum
TEXAS JOINS MEGA MILLIONS
The Texas Lottery Commission voted today to join 10 other states in the multistate lottery Mega Millions. Lottery officials expect $324.5 million in game ticket sales in Texas over 10 months starting this fall.To begin participating in the multi-jurisdiction lottery, certain steps must be taken including entering into an agreement with Mega Millions and adopting game rules, said Reagan Greer, executive director of the Texas Lottery Commission. We are looking at a late fall timeline for having th ...
Aug 5, 2003, 9:23 am - - Lottery News forum
