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More Texas Lottery trouble:" Auditor's warning erased from reportNews Story
Texas Lottery executives were warned in a draft audit last winter that their decision to gut the agency's security force and fire most of its officers threatened the lottery's security and integrity, but lottery officials never disclosed those findings publicly.A copy of the December draft obtained by the Houston Chronicle said that a reorganization ordered by lottery executives actually heightened the lottery's vulnerability to ticket theft, ticket counterfeiting and undetected fraud.But those
Jul 11, 2005, 1:33 pm - Lottery News

Illinois lottery ad agency off the hookNews Story
A special audit of the Illinois Lottery's chief ad agency found the company did not keep adequate records to answer key questions about millions of dollars in payments from the state.However, Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration said Thursday that the special $60,000 audit answered enough of those questions to vindicate the state's support of R.J. Dale Advertising Public Relations.The forensic audit, conducted by Clifton Gunderson LLP of Oak Brook, concluded that there was no evidence of mis
Jun 24, 2005, 1:36 pm - Lottery News

New Minnesota lottery director brings fresh startNews Story
Clint Harris often uses the words trauma year to describe what happened at the Minnesota State Lottery in the months before he took over as executive director.George Andersen, who had run the lottery since its inception, had committed suicide shortly after learning that a state audit would reveal an unflattering picture of his management.Harris, at the time director of South Dakota's lottery, had close professional ties with Andersen and considered him a friend. When I came aboard, the staff h
Jun 20, 2005, 1:30 pm - Lottery News

Maryland Lottery a case study in the science of random numbersNews Story
The Maryland Lottery provides a good example of why true lottery ball machines are much better than a computerized drawing for choosing lottery numbers. This is the super-secret lottery vault. It's 90 minutes before Tuesday's lunchtime picks, and Patrick Morton, the 35-year-old drawing manager for the Maryland State Lottery Agency, is only half joking as he hovers over a small keypad deep inside the studios of WJZ-TV.Beside the keypad is a large metal door - locked, alarmed, monitored by camera.
Jun 11, 2005, 2:29 am - Lottery News

Illinois Lottery Ad Contract Under ScrutinyNews Story
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said Wednesday she wants to know more about a $19 million advertising contract for the state lottery that was the subject of a critical audit earlier this month.Her questions center on the results of a report by Auditor General William Holland that shows R.J. Dale Advertising Public Relations had received $7.1 million to promote the state lottery, but could demonstrate only $2 million worth of work. We have reached out to the auditor general and we will b
May 18, 2005, 9:15 am - Lottery News

Wisconsin Lottery lost $212,000 in Super Bowl drawingNews Story
The Wisconsin Lottery lost $212,000 after it pulled out of a special drawing offering tickets and travel to the 2004 Super Bowl.The drawing was organized by a group that included NFL Hall of Famer Lynn Swann, according to an audit released Wednesday.Wisconsin Lottery spokesman Andrew Bohage said the state has considered legal action to recoup the money it lost after the NFL objected to the drawing. But he said lottery officials have held back because they are unsure if a suit would succeed. We r
May 12, 2005, 11:09 am - Lottery News

Wisconsin couple to be investigated for excessive lottery winsNews Story
A state lawmaker has asked for an audit to determine how a Bonduel, Wisconsin couple won three dozen second-chance state lottery drawings since 2000.In 5½ years, Jeffrey B. and Lisa M. Hintz have won more than $40,000 in second-chance drawings, including $5,000 from five consecutive weekly drawings this March and April.Since 2000, they've won another $26,000 from scratch-off tickets, other lottery games and the lottery's since-canceled television game show. In all, they have collected mor
May 12, 2005, 10:10 am - Lottery News

'Prize closet' for Illinois Lottery employees discoveredNews Story
The Illinois Lottery solicited donations of MP3 players, airline ticket vouchers, video game systems and other goodies from radio and television stations it advertised with, then used the items to create a prize closet for lottery employees, a state audit revealed on Wednesday. During this engagement it came to our attention that the Lottery has operated a 'prize closet' dating back to 1989 and possibly longer, said Auditor General William Holland's report.According to the audit, a letter sol
May 6, 2005, 10:05 am - Lottery News

Oklahoma lottery commission members selectedNews Story
Former Oklahoma City Mayor Ron Norick was among those appointed by Gov. Brad Henry on Monday to serve on the new Oklahoma Education Lottery Commission.Other members included a former teacher of the year and former president of the American Bar Association. I've assembled a great, bipartisan group of Oklahomans with impeccable credentials, unquestioned integrity and a strong commitment to building a better state, Henry said. I appreciate their willingness to serve Oklahoma in pursuit of better-f
Feb 22, 2005, 8:21 am - Lottery News

Georgia Lottery mistake gives players extra chance to winNews Story
Georgia lottery players have an extra chance to win Fantasy Five, due to a mistake made by lottery officials during the drawing.An internal audit, conducted as a normal course of business, revealed that one of the 39 numbered lottery balls was not placed into the drawing machine last Friday.As a result, the Georgia Lottery is honoring all winning tickets from Feb. 11th, and a bonus drawing will be held to make up for the mistake.Lottery President and Chief Executive Officer Margaret DeFrancisco
Feb 17, 2005, 7:52 am - Lottery News