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WV Lottery officials oppose jackpot anonymity billNews Story
The times of the big lottery check presentations may soon come to an end in West Virginia. Winners of big jackpots would no longer have to make required public appearances to claim those prizes if a bill that's moving at the State Capitol becomes law. The West Virginia Lottery is opposing the bill because of what John Myers, acting director of the Lottery, called an expectation of transparency among players. They want to know that, when we tell them that there's a grand prize winner, t
Mar 2, 2016, 9:46 am - Lottery News

More state lotteries adding "win for life" gamesNews Story
More than half of US lotteries now offer a for life lotto draw game By Todd Northrop In the past year a new multi-state lottery game concept where the top prize pays out over the lifetime of the winner has swept across the United States. Just like there are two big-jackpot multi-state lottery games Powerball and Mega Millions there are also two multi-state for life games: Cash4Life and Lucky for Life. The games offer a top prize and a second prize that pay off over the lifetime of th
Jan 22, 2016, 6:45 am - Lottery News

Lottery officials say identifying winners a mustNews Story
States wrestle with winners' privacy vs. integrity of games In the California lottery handbook for winners, officials offer a few suggestions to newly minted millionaires. Change your number. Stop answering your phone. And find a reputable financial adviser. That's because along with the money comes 15 minutes of fame as the names of winners are required to be made public in California and many other states. All eyes are on the Los Angeles suburb of Chino Hills, where one of three ticke
Jan 19, 2016, 12:24 pm - Lottery News

Multi-state Wild Card 2 game ending in FebruaryNews Story
North Dakota joining Lucky for Life multi-state game By Todd Northrop Wild Card 2, a multi-state lottery game currently offered in four states, is ending with the Feb. 24 drawing. The lottery game that has been played in one form or another for more than 20 years is being dropped after a fall in popularity, according to lottery officials. Wild Card 2 offers two plays for $1. It got its start in 1994 as Tri-West Lotto and was offered only in Idaho, Montana and South Dakota. In 1998, i
Jan 18, 2016, 9:59 am - Lottery News

Federal officials work to extradite Jamaican lottery scammersNews Story
Jamaican lottery scammer Sanjay Williams got off a plane in Charlotte, North Carolina, in June 2013, on his way to meet with the people who moved money for him. He was promptly arrested by U.S. law enforcement authorities, convicted in May and sentenced to 20 years in a U.S. prison. While the arrest on American soil spared authorities from extraditing Williams, rounding up his associate in the wide-ranging operation and 13 other suspects still believed to be in Jamaica is proving to be more o
Dec 26, 2015, 1:27 pm - Lottery News

Michigan lottery winners could remain anonymous under House billNews Story
You've heard the touching stories: a waitress, retiree or unemployed worker hits the jackpot and wins the state lottery. Under a bill approved by the Michigan House Regulatory Reform committee on a 13-2 vote Wednesday, those stories would probably disappear because all lottery winners would be able to remain anonymous. The bill would prohibit the state lottery office from disclosing information about an individual who won any lottery prize unless that winner authorizes the release of infor
May 14, 2015, 8:12 am - Lottery News

NC Powerball winner identifies herselfNews Story
A woman from Shallotte, North Carolina, has come forward with what she believes is the winning Powerball ticket from Wednesday's drawing. A reporter who spoke with 26-year-old Marie Holmes confirms the numbers and date on her ticket match those that were drawn for the $188 million payout. I thought I was going to have a heart attack when I saw the ticket and checked it, Holmes explained with a noticeable grin. The mother of four said she screamed after the winning numbers were drawn Wedne
Feb 13, 2015, 8:33 am - Lottery News

New multi-state lottery game launches SundayNews Story
Includes video report Bold new game concept has been years in the making Updated with 'How to Play' video By Todd Northrop A new mutli-state lottery game featuring more but smaller jackpots will debut this weekend in some U.S. states. The Monopoly Millionaires' Club game has $5 tickets that will be sold starting Sunday in 23 states. The game will have a niche audience that won't compete with Powerball and Mega Millions, the two other national games, according to Rebecca Hargrove,
Oct 17, 2014, 11:12 am - Lottery News

Jamaican DJ to plead guilty in lottery scamNews Story
A prominent Jamaican disc jockey charged for his role in a lottery scam targeting older people in the Dakotas and elsewhere is scheduled to plead guilty. Deon-ville O'Hara, also known as ZJ Wah Wa, is among 26 people who were indicted by a federal grand jury in North Dakota, where the investigation is centered. He is charged with three counts, including conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering. A plea agreement filed last month calls for O'Hara to plead guilty to conspiracy, which carr
Oct 8, 2014, 7:37 am - Lottery News

'All or Nothing' coming to North Carolina LotteryNews Story
By Todd Northrop A popular new lottery game format is now finding its way to North Carolina. Starting September 7, North Carolina lottery players will be able to buy tickets for the latest North Carolina Lottery game called All or Nothing. In the new game, players choose 12 numbers from a total pool of 24 numbers, and they can win the top prize by matching either all or none of the 12 numbers drawn to the numbers on their game ticket. The top prize is $250,000. All or Nothing is t
Aug 12, 2014, 8:26 am - Lottery News