Search

NJ lottery winners still receiving welfare, food stamps, audit saysNews Story
An audit sniffing out fraud in New Jersey's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program detected 66 lottery winners who were perhaps too lucky. They were all welfare and food stamps beneficiaries who had each won more than $10,000, including one person who had been collecting $1,000 a week from the Win for Life scratch-off game prior to 2009. Ten other winners netted more than $100,000 in lottery proceeds from 2011 to 2013. All of them were still collecting food stamps this year, according to t
Dec 6, 2014, 2:52 pm - Lottery News

Audit: Stores buying Michigan lottery tickets from playersNews Story
Some Michigan stores that sell lottery tickets are hitting the jackpot by buying winning tickets from desperate players at a discount, according to auditors who are urging a crackdown on the illegal practice. Lottery players who owe back taxes or other debts don't want the state to learn their identity. So they're probably selling winning tickets back to retailers for less than what they're worth, the audit found. An audit released Tuesday said 37 store owners turned in winning tickets wor
Nov 18, 2014, 10:13 pm - Lottery News

Keno opens a new fight over Arkansas lotteryNews Story
Arkansas lottery officials won't just be making the case for why they should be allowed to expand their games to include offerings such as keno when the Legislature meets next year. They'll also be making the case for not completely overhauling their structure. Legislation approved in a special session last week that bars the lottery from launching monitor games such as keno until March 13, 2015, ensures that the issue will be at the top of the agenda when lawmakers convene for next year's se
Jul 8, 2014, 8:06 am - Lottery News

Audit: Florida lottery department keeps shaky recordsNews Story
The agency overseeing the Florida lottery doesn't exactly have the winning ticket when it comes to keeping track of its taxpayer-funded property. At least, that's the conclusion of a review conducted by the office of the state auditor general, David W. Martin. Auditors used the Florida Department of the Lottery's own records, and determined that as of July 31, 2013, millions of dollars in public property purchased and used by the department was poorly accounted for. As a result, officials
Jun 18, 2014, 5:06 pm - Lottery News

California Lottery is booming, thanks to higher payoutsNews Story
After years of decline, the California Lottery is booming. The jackpots are bigger, and that's drawing more players and excitement. Just a few weeks ago, a Mega Millions ticket sold in San Jose matched all six numbers. The state-record prize of $324 million worth about $174 million in a single payment was claimed by a Northern California man Friday. The turnaround is due to changes made to the lottery in 2010, when revenues were on the decline. The changes brought bigger prizes, but they a
Jan 6, 2014, 7:51 am - Lottery News

Wisconsin lottery auditors don't like branded scratch gamesNews Story
The Wisconsin Lottery is raking in record profits and that in turn benefits taxpayers. That was a key selling point when the lottery was approved, that some of the gambling sales would go to reduce property taxes. But state auditors think taxpayers could benefit even more. If you have an itch to play the lottery, the Wisconsin Lottery has a dizzying array of games to choose from. But the state's audit bureau says games requiring a licensing fee are not a good gamble for the state. Th
Jul 26, 2013, 9:48 am - Lottery News

State auditor should examine Colorado Lottery, says lawmakerNews Story
A state senator Monday called for the state auditor to examine the Colorado Lottery's grossly unacceptable performance and systemic pattern of distracted management. Sen. Steve King, vice chairman of the legislative audit committee, also said he plans to file a bill taking lottery oversight and management away from the state revenue department. I want to do all the research and see what other states are doing, but I think I will find an independent commission is in the best interests of
Jul 23, 2013, 4:16 pm - Lottery News

Moldy Sandy-damaged NJ Lottery tickets leads to workers' comp claimsNews Story
Two New Jersey Lottery employees allegedly sickened by moldy Superstorm Sandy-damaged scratch-off tickets are looking to be compensated for some unlucky circumstances. The employees, who filed worker's compensation claims, were exposed to approximately 400,000 stinky lottery tickets for more than six months in a warehouse at the state lottery headquarters in Lawrence and were asked to audit the tickets by their superiors. An account of the conditions from one warehouse employee was reporte
Jul 2, 2013, 10:48 am - Lottery News

Illinois Lottery seeks to collect $20 million from operator Northstar Lottery GroupNews Story
But the lottery has not shown Northstar the final audit numbers The Illinois Lottery said Monday it is entitled to a $20 million payout from Lottery private manager Northstar Lottery Group because the group fell short of the total Illinois Lottery income Northstar said would be generated in fiscal year 2012. Noted Illinois Lottery Superintendent Michael Jones: Northstar won the private manager contract by projecting a net income of $851.2 million in FY12, but failed to reach this goal, con
Mar 19, 2013, 4:09 pm - Lottery News

Nevada governor signs online gambling billNews Story
Gov. Brian Sandoval signed legislation Thursday legalizing online gambling in Nevada, capping a dizzying day at the Legislature as lawmakers passed the bill through the Assembly and Senate as an emergency measure. Nevada wanted to beat New Jersey, its East Coast casino rival, to the online gambling punch. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie previously vetoed an online wagering bill but has indicated he may sign an amended version next week. Sandoval and Nevada legislative leaders said it was im
Feb 22, 2013, 6:01 am - Lottery News