Man sues S.C. Lottery, claiming the state is misleading ticket buyers

Comment #39

Iesha Kelly — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 16:14:54 GMT

well-written, chewie. well said.

Comment #38

DoubleDown — Sat, 07 Jan 2006 17:06:55 GMT

Ok CASH, I'll bite....what does the ticket's fine print say

Comment #37

NCPicks — Sat, 07 Jan 2006 16:56:36 GMT

What if someone buys a ticket for you

Comment #36

CASH Only — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 23:04:51 GMT

The NY Lottery misleads the public in radio commercials you can win a million dollars . Not until after you buy the ticket, you read the fine print on the back.

Comment #35

NCPicks — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 18:35:26 GMT

The fact remains that the people of SC can find the information if they persue it.If they don't,it's not the states fault.I don't see their misfortune if they're just lazy.If they care so much,do your homework instead of demanding that the state do all your thinking for ya.Get over yourselves.

Comment #34

Chewie — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 17:15:07 GMT

Agree, thus, when they get caught, they should be subject to the same penalties. When Enron executives do something wrong and people loose money, the Government goes after Enron executives with the full force that every tax penny can afford. In this case, those loosing money only have one recourse; lawsuit. It's time the people remember who the forefathers died for; the people - NOT the government. The government has spent centuries making themselve into power and money hungry entities. They... [ More ]

Comment #33

Tenaj — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 16:58:11 GMT

Remember who this gambling effort is orientated towards, the poor and the uneducated. They are being ripped off by their government because of who they are and what they are. In many cases. they're only option is a lawsuit.Most industries capitalize on the ignorance of the masses. The lottery commission is no different.

Comment #32

GVILLE — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 15:00:23 GMT

HMMM..... SC Government or SC Lawyers? Seems we lose either way. These two are only looking out for #1 (themselves).

Comment #31

Chewie — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 12:46:32 GMT

Because PA has computer tracking, doesn't make a SC lawsuit frivelous. There are thousands, hundreds of thousands of scratch off players that don't have access to libraries, or even know where one is. If they did, an equal number wouldn't know how to use a computer, or are afraid of being tracked by the government. A lot are illegals and are afraid or don't speak the language. The target group for the lottery directors. Just because people on this group know everything there is to know abo... [ More ]

Comment #30

mylollipop — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 05:11:00 GMT

These boots are made for walking....and the beat goes on! And the gamblers loose. What is a lottery but a gamble

Comment #29

konane — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 15:19:37 GMT

They seem to have covered their bases well because two columns state Est. Top Prizes Left Est. Total Prizes Left. When a means is provided to find out information and people fail to use it, seems a very flimsy excuse to sue. I personally hope it gets tossed out of court due to lack of merit.I however am in favor of all lotteries disclosing this type information, making it available on their website or call in customer service so players can make an informed decision.

Comment #28

hypersoniq — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 15:01:25 GMT

they (S.C.) need a page like this...PA's instant prizes remaining tracker...http://www.palottery.state.pa.us/lottery/PALotto/instPrizes.aspoh, wait... they DO...http://www.sceducationlottery.com/games_statsreport.aspdon't all libraries have free internet access?frivelous lawsuits. maybe they want to play musical chairs only they don't take a chair away when the music stops... so nobody feels left out...

Comment #27

HIMSELF — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 02:22:13 GMT

i agree with the lawsuit ..if i were given a fair chance to win,then good, not a guarantee to win. several problems arise within the s.c.lottery systems. list not updated. clerks not knowledgeable. should not require a cell phoneor internet. and last but not least. scratch offs are pulled in certain areas.when main prize is gone. This much i do know.

Comment #26

DoubleDown — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 02:10:45 GMT

No scratchie on the counter !!!!! Too much graphite to clean up. DD

Comment #25

bell815 — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 00:13:56 GMT

I am also from SC and i agree if the top prizes are gone then you should know it in advance. However, you are taking a risk do to the words up to. So this is a catch-22.

Comment #24

TheGameGrl — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 22:11:00 GMT

My home state of PA sends out a printout each day from the terminals to say what prizes remain or when a game is being retired . Any time I am standing in line waiting my turn I review the list. You are even allowed to have the lottery attendent print the report that shows remaining prizes . How cool is that! Many folks don't think to ask if it can be done or if they are allowed to have one. Most often the lottery attendent will graciously abide. (they want winners as well as the rest of us pla... [ More ]

Comment #23

Chewie — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 22:02:17 GMT

People who are not willing to take the responsibility to inform themselves prior to buying a ticket of any sort should simply not play. ..... And just think the same people are issued drivers licenses and are allowed to vote. Whoda' thunk it????????????And the scary part is: They do drive and they do vote. Now you know who they are talking to on their cell, their lawyers

Comment #22

konane — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 20:38:37 GMT

This is some stupid person either trying to make a quick buck or get some attention.Brad My sarcasm above was to state that I don't come anywhere near believing that people are as ill informed or victimized as they would lead the public to believe.Seems to me the person with the complaint was smart enough to figure out a possible technicality and begin to legally exploit it for compen$ation.Attorney(s) wants to win the lottery by gaining class action status. Class action suits are home runs fo... [ More ]

Comment #21

zanbab — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 20:21:45 GMT

scratch offs are rip offs, stick with the pick 3. i have been playing lottery for 30 yrs never bought a scratch off, your a loser in the long run, plus when the jackpot is won, on a scratch off they should post it. the man is right.

Comment #20

konane — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 19:32:41 GMT

Possible solution ..... a small terminal in every store that sells scratch offs, which allows a potential customer to access current status of any scratcher based upon updates every 24 hours or more often if possible. Offers an immediate means to find out if someone has questions and seems to place any purchase of scratchers in a category of informed consent.Expensive, but no more so than greed driven lawsuits.There is a risk in every action taken even walking across the street. Lotteries are b... [ More ]

Comment #19

Chewie — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 19:10:49 GMT

There are no rules for the greedy or the careless. That will remain a fact as long as there are trial lawyers.

Comment #18

KY Floyd — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 19:08:26 GMT

Bradly_60 wrote:<< There is nothing wrong with states selling tickets after the top prize is awarded. NO WHERE does it gaurantee that you will win the top prize. How is it false advertising when they say you can win up to the top prize. >>You're right that there's nothing wrong with selling the tickets. If people are stupid enough to buy them, there's also nothing wrong with selling tickets to a game where the only prize is a free ticket, and the odds od winning are 100 to 1. The problem isn... [ More ]

Comment #17

konane — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 18:48:42 GMT

If you recall we've had that information available just a few years ... and it only came about after a news story revealed the fact that the information was not available even through call in customer service.

Comment #16

fxsterling — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 18:32:54 GMT

I USE THE GA. site to increase my odds king kong has 7 unclimed prizes been on sale for 90 days that means my odds are better other games have only a few winners left bad odds

Comment #15

Todd — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 17:05:29 GMT

I think the main reasons people buy them are:It's fun to scratch offThere are many varieties of games (and prices)You know instantly if you won anything -- so you can run back into the store and buy another handful! On point #3, I have seen that phenomena more times than I'd like. People buying scratch tickets and then immediately buying more ... and more. Unless you've got money to burn, that seems excessive to me.

Comment #14

Bradly_60 — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 17:04:03 GMT

We had a big thing about this not to long ago. There is nothing wrong with states selling tickets after the top prize is awarded. NO WHERE does it gaurantee that you will win the top prize. How is it false advertising when they say you can win up to the top prize. If you don't want to buy tickets that don't have top prizes then find out for yourself which ones those are. If the states had to pull them from the shelves after the top prize was awarded states would be forced to make sure that... [ More ]

Comment #13

Think — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 16:47:46 GMT

I don't understand why people buy scratch off tickets! Think about it. 1. It is absolutely impossible to win the top prize unless the top prize ticket happens to be in the store where you are buying tickets.2. Somebody somewhere has to decide where to send the top prize winning ticket.3. Look what happend in Indiana when someone in the lottery office told his buddy where the top prize winning ticket was!4. There are better games from the online terminals (at least here in MI

Comment #12

BaristaExpress — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 16:20:46 GMT

Here in Delaware as soon as all of the top prizes are won they tell all retailers to pull the remaining tickets off the shelves and send them back to lottery HQ. It's not a waste, they just feel that most who play the (instant/scratch off) lottery tickets want to win the top prizes they have to offer and if they win one of the lower prizes that just makes it all the better to those people! I see it as making the game as even as possible to everyone to win the top prizes. And if they just so happ... [ More ]

Comment #11

DoubleDown — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 15:25:27 GMT

And the attorney will argue that:*The list on the wall isn't updated as it should be*Lots of scratch off players are not computer-literate and/or own one so they cannot log on and see the updates The craziness will never end

Comment #10

konane — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 15:23:06 GMT

Seems that by feigning stupid, people don't want participate in a lottery for a chance to win, they want a guarantee they will win.Attorneys have made whole careers from managing to persuade courts that we're in the dark ages when people didn't know how to read/decipher nor had information readily accessible to find out what they want to know.We have web accessible cell phones now, computers in libraries, internet cafes so there is no excuse.

Comment #9

Tenaj — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 15:12:47 GMT

A list is posted on the wall as well.

Comment #8

JAP69 — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 15:04:28 GMT

Another thing about scratchers in S.C. that I have seen is that some scratchers can be sent in to the lottery for a second chance drawing for a large prize. That is a large prize still availableAlso another point is on the daily 3 and 4 games. They payout a set figure for the wins on St/bx bets. Should I sue for not getting a prize level that was not paid out on the percentage of the pool for that day.I see N.J. has pari-mutel payouts with a payout percentage higher at times than the set figure

Comment #7

konane — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 15:02:21 GMT

Seems if scratch-off winners with remaining jackpots were updated every 24 hours and individual scratch off game information could be punched up by ticket retailers upon request from a purchaser, it would seem to satisfy any potential argument someone might have. Needs to also have a disclaimer attached also.

Comment #6

wpb — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 15:01:28 GMT

The South Carolina web page clearly tells you how many top prizes are left and the date of the last update. I think people should check this before buying tickets.

Comment #5

JAP69 — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 14:22:53 GMT

I can see the drool running out of the lawyers mouths.

Comment #4

Chewie — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 14:12:38 GMT

It is like betting on a horse race, and not all the horses run. Then being told you can't have your money back because we thought the horse would run. Why should the state get away with the same thing a car dealer is penalized for? Because they are the state? It the same old story of screwing the little people because they don't have the assets or knowledge of the language to question or complain.

Comment #3

RJOh — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 13:44:23 GMT

This same problem has come up in other states so it's nothing new. Ohio resolved it by having a Top Prize Drawing after all the tickets are sold or the game ends. Tickets with a TPD win a prize and are entered in a drawing for the top prize, so as long as some tickets have a TPD on them a chance to win a big prize still exists.

Comment #2

Winner2Be — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 13:21:03 GMT

Interesting....I live in Charleston...but I don't buy scratch offs so I guess I can't call this attorney.

Comment #1

DoubleDown — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 12:23:36 GMT

This does bring up an interesting question-What does Cali and VA do with the tickets after the top prizes are claimed -pull them from the shelves, send them back to Lottery HQ and destroy them ?Seems like a waste since the lower tier prizes can still be won. The odds on the top prize are ridiculous anyway...

Man sues S.C. Lottery, claiming the state is misleading ticket buyers

Lottery Post — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 11:26:49 GMT

A Charleston County, South Carolina, man has sued the state lottery for fraud, claiming false advertising caused him to buy scratch-off lottery tickets for prizes already claimed.Pete Cuming filed the lawsuit one week after a state audit revealed the lottery, in a single year, sold nearly $20 million worth of tickets in 16 scratch-off games after all the contests' top prizes were awarded. His lawyers are seeking class action status, saying the millions of dollars represent thousands of misled ti... [ More ]