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Alabama Legislature seems unlikely to approve lotteryNews Story
Like buying a Powerball ticket, establishing an Alabama lottery seems more likely to end in grief than gain. Efforts to create a statewide lottery appear to be dead in the current session, despite a Senate committee's approval Thursday of an amendment that would put the question before voters. Procedural rules in the Legislature's final days are likely to make its passage much more difficult, and House version of the bill appears stalled. But the Senate's sponsor and other legislators say
Apr 23, 2016, 8:16 am - Lottery News

Quebec bill would force Internet firms to block access to online gambling sitesNews Story
A little-publicized bill that is making its way through Quebec's legislative process has digital-law experts and others worried that the concept of a free and open Internet is being threatened in the province. Bill 74 includes a provision that seeks to force Internet service providers to block Quebecers' access to online gambling sites that aren't approved by the government. The province's finance minister says the bill is necessary to protect the health and safety of Quebecers because ill
Apr 13, 2016, 12:01 pm - Lottery News

Illinois Lottery gives out free gas, groceries, treatsNews Story
The Illinois Lottery was giving away thousands of dollars worth of free gasoline, groceries, meals and sweets throughout the state on Monday, as part of its Luck is Everywhere promotion. I'm in shock, said a woman named Maryann as she laughed at her good fortune. She had not planned to fill up her car's gas tank until Tuesday, but on a lark pulled in to the Delta Sonic gas station on Jefferson Street in Joliet on Monday, where the Lottery gave out $20 worth of free gas to 100 customers.
Apr 4, 2016, 7:12 pm - Lottery News

Consultant lays out 'ambitious' vision for Arkansas LotteryNews Story
A consultant for the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery envisions ticket sales steadily increasing from $450 million in the current fiscal year to $615 million by fiscal 2021 and net proceeds for scholarships rising from $85 million to $109 million in the same period. Camelot Global Services' self-described ambitious five-year business plan proposes many changes, including overhauling the portfolio of scratch-off and draw-game tickets, increasing the lottery's $5 million marketing budget to $7.5 mi
Mar 13, 2016, 11:33 am - Lottery News

NC Lottery tries persuading lawmakers to expand gamesNews Story
North Carolina could collect more money through the state-run lottery if it expanded the number of games offered, Lottery Director Alice Garland told lawmakers Thursday. But such a move would likely have to wait until next year and would have to get past a sizable cadre of conservatives deeply suspicious of any move to expand the games. If that's a source of revenue other legislators want to pursue, that's out there, Rep. Jason Saine, R-Lincoln, said after the meeting, adding quickly that le
Mar 11, 2016, 10:29 am - Lottery News

No $50K bonus for Washington retailer who sold winning lottery ticketNews Story
If you're Nirbhai Singh, 36, who started out delivering for Pizza Hut and now owns a couple of 7-Elevens, what else can you do but be philosophical about losing out on $50,000? It was his West Seattle store at 9200 35th Ave. S.W. that sold the winning $157 million ticket in Tuesday's Mega Millions jackpot. The winner has yet to come forward. As for Singh, whom everybody calls Sonny, until last year his store would have gotten a $50,000 bonus for selling a winning Powerball or Mega Milli
Mar 10, 2016, 8:43 am - Lottery News

Illinois Lottery to stop online, mobile app sales of single ticketsNews Story
Legislation to save online sales fails In less than two weeks, Illinois Lottery players hoping to strike it rich with single tickets purchased online or via the lottery's mobile app will be out of luck. The Illinois Lottery Internet Pilot Program allows single tickets for the state's Mega Millions, Powerball and Lotto games to be purchased online or via its mobile app. The test run ends March 25, according to a statement from the Illinois Lottery. Bills that would have allowed the progr
Mar 9, 2016, 11:36 am - Lottery News

Illinois lottery players could lose ability to play onlineNews Story
A test program that allows Illinois Lottery tickets to be sold online expires March 25, and the state is likely to lose out on money for education and construction projects unless lawmakers take action. A measure to make online lottery sales permanent has yet to move in the House, and lawmakers aren't scheduled to return to the Capitol until April 4. In 2012, Illinois became the first state to sell lottery tickets online and gambling options expanded with the addition of a mobile app in 20
Mar 4, 2016, 11:07 am - Lottery News

Falling lottery sales pinch college scholarshipsNews Story
The ticket-buying frenzy that erupted over January's $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot wasn't enough to reverse a long-running trend: Proceeds from lottery games aren't keeping pace with the higher education costs they were supposed to pay. Now lawmakers in at least eight states have made or are considering making dramatic cuts to scholarship programs funded by lotteries. The programs, aimed at opening access to college by providing nearly free tuition, include one at the University of New Mexic
Mar 3, 2016, 12:23 pm - Lottery News

No consensus on what an Alabama lottery would look likeNews Story
Is a lottery coming to Alabama? Some lawmakers say that's the winning ticket when it comes to fixing the state's budget problems. But, it's a controversial issue with some lawmakers morally opposed to the idea. It has been 17 years since Alabamians voted no on a lottery, and they might get the chance to vote once again. Even the lawmakers who do want a lottery don't agree on what kind of lottery is right for Alabama. The only wild card would be a lottery which would be difficult to bud
Feb 22, 2016, 9:08 am - Lottery News