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Lottery number strategies subject of newspaper investigationNews Story
The odds are long. The drawings are random. And the house keeps a much greater share of wagers than other forms of gambling.In sum: The lottery cannot be beaten. There is no system that can improve your chances of winning the lottery, period, says Mike Orkin, a California mathematician who has written extensively about gambling odds.Yet the quest for an ever-elusive winning lottery strategy is alive and well and for sale.On a quiet, dead-end street in Denville stands the headquarters of Doubl
Dec 6, 2005, 1:26 am - Lottery News

Illegal deals of Minn. Lottery revealed in court documentsNews Story
Authorities investigating former Minnesota lottery director George Andersen suspected he was involved in bribery, conspiracy and conflicts of interest, court documents show.Search warrants unsealed Friday lay out the still-open criminal investigation into Andersen's dealings with Media Rare, a public relations firm that had no-bid contracts with the lottery. The warrants are the first public indication that investigators thought Andersen's dealings might have amounted to more than mismanagement.
Dec 5, 2005, 9:45 am - Lottery News

New N.C. Lottery chief says integrity of games is importantNews Story
N.C. lottery enthusiasts await Shaheen's position on dreaded computerized drawings issueChosen amid an ethical scandal involving lottery commissioners, the man picked yesterday as executive director of North Carolina's new lottery wasted no time promising games that will be run honorably, with low-key advertising. The key to a successful lottery is the integrity issue, Tom Shaheen told the N.C. Lottery Commission. But that's a word that is used rather loosely in the lottery industry. You can
Nov 18, 2005, 10:24 am - Lottery News

Third N.C. Lottery commissioner resignsNews Story
Another member of the North Carolina State Lottery Commission has resigned, saying a potential conflict of interest has made it difficult for him to contribute to the panel.Gordon Myers was until recently a vice president for Ingles Markets and said he continues to have a financial interest in the business. He was worried that could create a conflict since Asheville-based Ingles may decide to sell lottery tickets.Myers submitted his resignation letter to commission chairman Charles Sanders late
Nov 15, 2005, 3:42 pm - Lottery News

Texas Lottery under the microscope in hearingsNews Story
Texas Lottery officials were summoned Tuesday to testify before a legislative committee for the second time in five months, this time over allegations of mismanagement brought by a lottery systems analyst who was fired the same day the Houston Chronicle reported his concerns.Shelton Charles, who oversaw much of the lottery's technical operations before his firing Friday, planned to testify Monday at a hearing of the House Licensing and Regulation Committee, which oversees the lottery.The committ
Nov 9, 2005, 7:12 am - Lottery News

N.C. Gov. says lottery can overcome setbacksNews Story
North Carolina Governor Mike Easley says he thinks North Carolina's new and beleaguered lottery can overcome recent setbacks that led to a criminal investigation over alleged lobbying violations.Easley told reporters this morning that an appointed commission can lead the troubled numbers game out of its current problems. The governor says, You can focus on the bumps or you can focus on the road. I intend to focus myself on the road. Since Easley signed the lottery into law in August, two member
Nov 8, 2005, 2:01 pm - Lottery News

N.C. Lottery ticket plan may kill video pokerNews Story
One of North Carolina's top lawmakers Friday called for banning the sale of lottery tickets at businesses with video poker machines, a ban one operator said would effectively kill the video poker business.Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight proposed the ban in a letter to lottery commission Chairman Charles Sanders. The Dare County Democrat has long opposed video poker. While the Senate has repeatedly voted to ban the games, the House never has.An ongoing federal probe of the industry last ye
Nov 8, 2005, 8:57 am - Lottery News

GTECH awarded N.J. lottery contract despite highest bidNews Story
The state of New Jersey yesterday signed a five-year extension with longtime lottery manager GTECH Corp., despite a competitor's offer to do the job for $32 million less.State records show that GTECH's bid, which totaled $107 million over five years, was accepted because of concerns over the experience and equipment offered by rival Scientific Games, which said it could do the job for $75 million. In general, the committee bases its recommendation on the overall technical superiority of GTECH's
Nov 8, 2005, 6:45 am - Lottery News

Scientific Games faces criminal investigationNews Story
Apparent violations of lobbying laws prompt North Carolina to initiate a probeNorth Carolina Wednesday began a criminal investigation of lottery company Scientific Games and three people who worked this year for the major gaming operator.The N.C. Secretary of State's office, which regulates lobbyists, said it found apparent violations of the lobbying laws by Scientific Games International Inc. and a vice president, Alan Middleton, as well as company consultants Meredith Norris and Kevin Geddin
Nov 3, 2005, 11:12 am - Lottery News

Winning lottery ticket purchased with stolen credit cardNews Story
A woman bought a winning lottery ticket worth $1 million with a stolen credit card and could wind up with nothing if convicted, police said.Christina Goodenow, 38, of White City in southern Oregon faced numerous theft-related charges, forgery and possession of methamphetamine, said authorities, who searched her home Thursday. The card belonged to a deceased relative, they said.If convicted of any of the charges, Goodenow will not be able to collect prize money from the winning ticket, said polic
Oct 28, 2005, 5:25 pm - Lottery News