Lottery winner gets help on plan to turn good fortune into lifelong prosperity
Richie Randazzo became New York's luckiest and most famous doorman last year when he scored a $5 million lottery prize.
The wisecracking 45-year-old from Gravesend, Brooklyn, became an overnight sensation, hitting the media circuit to tell his rags-to-riches story and enjoying a sitdown on Howard Stern's radio show.
But even after hitting the jackpot, Randazzo could not escape his troubled past.
For nearly two decades the one-time Park Ave. doorman had been a drug addict and, at one poi ...
Oct 6, 2009, 2:45 pm - - Lottery News forum
Study: Hoosier Lottery has worst financial decline in USA
Another state with computerized drawings fares poorly
Has Indiana considered boldly changing back to real drawings?
Proceeds from Indiana's lottery were down by more than 17 percent in the past fiscal year, marking the sharpest decline in profits nationwide.
Hoosier Lottery proceeds fell by nearly $40 million. The state's profit from scratch-off tickets, Powerball and other lottery games dropped from $217 million in the 2008 fiscal year to $178 million in fiscal year that ended June 30. ...
Sep 24, 2009, 2:40 pm - - Lottery News forum
N.D. lottery ticket sales, profits continue slide
Despite hefty increases in promotional spending, lottery ticket sales and profits have declined in North Dakota during the past two years and led to a large reduction in the lottery's financial reserves.
Ticket sales of the North Dakota Lottery's four games Powerball, Hot Lotto, Wild Card 2 and 2by2 have dropped by 4 percent, to $21.7 million, from 2007 to 2009, according to lottery financial statements. Profits in the 2009 budget year alone dropped 15 percent, to $5.78 million, primarily bec ...
Sep 14, 2009, 10:32 pm - - Lottery News forum
Oregon Lottery working to end slump
In recent weeks, Oregon Lottery officials have installed 400 new casino-style slot machines in bars and taverns across the state in hopes of boosting player interest and ending a slump in lottery play.
Lottery Director Dale Penn said the plan is to install another 2,100 of the newer machines in retail establishments to replace some of the lottery's older-style video lottery terminals.
We're real hopeful that we can bring some players back and encourage others to play more, Penn said.
H ...
Sep 2, 2009, 5:54 pm - - Lottery News forum
Texas Lottery announces record sales for Mega Millions
Mega Millions sales in Texas for last Friday's $333 million advertised jackpot were $49.8 million for the prize's entire roll cycle, the highest sales recorded in Texas for any game.
The roll cycle began on July 10 with a $12 million starting jackpot and ended with a $325 million advertised jackpot that, because of brisk sales, was bumped to $333 million, said Texas Lottery Commission Deputy Executive Director Gary Grief. This is the highest dollar value of sales for a Mega Millions jackpot ...
Sep 1, 2009, 9:11 am - - Lottery News forum
Recession or not, Michigan lottery tickets are hot sellers
Tonight's huge Mega Millions jackpot helping already good sales
These tough times might have folks cutting back lots of things, but Keith Longhurst figures lottery tickets will never be one of them.
That's why it's no surprise to him that Michigan Lottery officials say lottery sales are running at a near record pace and are expected to get a boost by tonight's $207 million Mega Millions jackpot.
We get people in here on unemployment, and they're putting together change just to buy one ...
Aug 21, 2009, 1:21 pm - - Lottery News forum
Maryland Lottery to tackle budget constraints with social media
The Maryland Lottery will rely more on social media and less on D.C.'s massive media market to tout its games as the state slashes its advertising budget.
The state agency said it will look at Twitter, Facebook and other online networking sites to save money after statewide budget cuts slashed its ad spending by $5.5 million. And instead of buying pricey ads on local television stations that reach the entire D.C. market, it may buy Comcast cable ads that target certain neighborhoods, lottery ...
Jul 31, 2009, 8:37 am - - Lottery News forum
Hawaii residents now taxed on Vegas winnings even if they lose
Huh?
A new bill signed into law this month by Gov. Linda Lingle has some frequent Las Vegas visitors and local CPAs scratching their heads.
Under House Bill 1495, no longer will gamblers be able to offset their winnings with their losses for Hawaii state income tax purposes. Previously gamblers would be taxed only on their net winnings, but now they will be taxed on gross winnings.
A Hawaii resident who wins $10,000 in a year, for example, and loses $9,000 in the same year used to be ta ...
Jul 30, 2009, 9:13 am - - Lottery News forum
Proposed Mass. budget includes nonexistent lottery money
Issue highlights problem with budgeting based on speculation
When Massachusetts lawmakers approved a $24.7 billion state budget last week, they included $25 million in expected revenue from the multi-state lottery game, Powerball.
The trouble is, the state's bid to become a part of the game had been rejected and state Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill neglected to let legislators know.
To make matters worse, the inclusion of Powerball revenue in the state budget was based upon the notion that ...
Jul 29, 2009, 12:27 pm - - Lottery News forum
West Virginia Lottery brings in $20M more than expected
The West Virginia Lottery beat its forecast by $20 million during the just-completed fiscal year, despite the recession and competition from neighboring Pennsylvania, agency officials announced Wednesday.
Sales reached $1.49 billion during the 12 months that ended June 30, or just over 1 percent more than expected.
State government's share of the resulting revenues topped $616.6 million, while West Virginia's counties and municipalities together reaped nearly $16 million.
But an overall ...
Jul 22, 2009, 6:09 pm - - Lottery News forum
