Texas Lottery shake-up sparks optimism
The Texas Lottery's enforcement division was restored this week and the role of a longtime agency official has been reduced in a shake-up that follows nearly a year of public scrutiny over security, ethics and the treatment of employees at the $3 billion agency.
Employees and lottery observers said Tuesday they were optimistic about the changes, hoping they can improve employee morale, security and public confidence in the agency.
I have hopes and aspirations it will be a good deal, but i ...
May 31, 2006, 6:56 am - - Lottery News forum
How To Protect Yourself In A Lottery Pool
Now that $21 million in Texas Lottery prize money is in limbo as a result of a pending lawsuit that has frozen the money, many people wonder how they can protect themselves from falling victim of a lottery pool dispute.
The six Lubbock winners are being sued by a seventh person who claims, but has no written proof, that she was supposed to be included in the winnings.
Who could have thought a little piece of paper could cause so much trouble? More than money, a winning ticket could bring ...
May 25, 2006, 10:39 pm - - Lottery News forum
Texas Woman Sues Over Winning Lottery Ticket
A woman who claims she was part of a $36 million Lotto Texas jackpot pool but was excluded from the winnings has sued six women and the Texas Lottery Commission.
Betty Domingo of Lubbock claimed in her lawsuit filed Friday that she is due $2.9 million, her share of the April 29 Lotto drawing. The six women named as defendants selected the lump sum $20.9 million cash value option.
A judge issued a restraining order Friday to prevent the commission from distributing the money until the dispu ...
May 25, 2006, 2:26 pm - - Lottery News forum
Texas Lottery audit finds security flaws
The Texas Lottery Commission needs to better enforce its computer system security policies and more effectively ensure that its main contractor is conducting background checks on its employees, according to a state auditor's report obtained Wednesday.
The report, which is scheduled for public release on Friday, said security at the lottery is generally satisfactory. But the auditors identified several significant security weaknesses, especially in the area of system access.
For example, ...
May 4, 2006, 10:00 am - - Lottery News forum
Five People From Lubbock Win $36 Million Texas Lotto Jackpot
Jackpot is the first for Texas Lotto's new game format
Five people, all longtime friends, put their money together to purchase a lotto ticket at a 7-11 in Lubbock. That lotto ticket is now worth $36 million.
Obviously, they're ecstatic, but also a bit hesitant about making headlines. They wish to remain anonymous until the day they claim the prize, and the media is respecting their wishes.
One person's dream led to the winning six numbers. The cash value option was chosen, so after ta ...
May 3, 2006, 11:00 am - - Lottery News forum
Sales for new Texas Lotto starts today
Texas lottery players are saying buh-bye to the bonus ball.
Last night's $32 million jackpot Lotto Texas drawing was the last for the much-loathed little guy, who proved unpopular with players.
The Texas Lottery Commission voted Feb. 27 to scratch the unpopular bonus ball and return to better sales and better odds.
Lotto Texas will return to a matrix that was abandoned three years ago in which players may choose six numbers from among 54, with odds of winning the jackpot at 1 in 25.8 m ...
Apr 23, 2006, 9:36 am - - Lottery News forum
Bonus ball bounced by Lotto Texas
Come Sunday, Lotto Texas players won't have the bonus ball to kick around anymore.
When Saturday night's drawing for Lotto's $32 million jackpot is over, the Texas Lottery Commission will reintroduce the version of the game it abandoned in October 2003. The move came after players sent a clear signal that they do not like having to match the number on that extra ball for a chance to win the grand prize.
How clear was the signal?
Lotto ticket sales plummeted by 30 percent after the bon ...
Apr 21, 2006, 9:21 am - - Lottery News forum
Texas woman wins lottery millions second time
Joan Ginther is a lucky woman indeed.
Not only was she the proud recipient of a $5.4 million jackpot prize from Lotto Texas drawing in July 1993, but Thursday she met with the Texas Lottery Commission in Austin to claim another $2 million in prize money.
Ginther, a former Bishop resident who visits the city frequently to care for her father, bought a Holiday Millionaire scratch-off ticket for $30 at the Diamond Shamrock at 525 S. 14th St. in Kingsville. She lives in Las Vegas, according ...
Apr 8, 2006, 9:39 am - - Lottery News forum
Police arrest lottery ticket thief
A routine audit of lottery tickets conducted by the Texas Lottery Commission showed that more than $37,000 in scratch-off tickets were missing from a Flower Mound convenience store.
The tickets were missing from a Diamond Shamrock station in the 220 block of Long Prairie Road.
Police later arrested a store employee, Joanna Diaz, on charges of theft.
Mar 22, 2006, 9:36 am - - Lottery News forum
Texas Pick 3 is state's top moneymaker
The head of the Texas Lottery Commission calls the venerable Lotto Texas the sweetheart game, but it's no longer the biggest single moneymaker for the state agency.
Lotto Texas, which is awaiting its third major overhaul in five years, has been surpassed by Pick 3 as the top numbers game. Over the past 12 months, Pick 3 has outsold Lotto Texas, $315.6 million to $300.3 million, sales figures show.
Pick 3 has developed a very loyal following over the years, and those players really like ...
Mar 20, 2006, 8:24 am - - Lottery News forum
