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Florida Lottery's repeat winners don't always come out aheadNews Story
Thirteen players cashed at least 20 tickets paying more than $600 in 2011 Most people who play the lottery won't win more than a few bucks. But there are people in South Florida who win big money almost every week. A Plantation woman has won at least $600 more than 240 times in the past 19 years, according to a Sun Sentinel analysis of individual Florida Lottery winnings dating to 1993. A Hollywood man won $5,000 at least 52 times last year. The winningest player for 2011, a resident of Pa
May 14, 2012, 8:06 am - Lottery News

Judge rules man has no right to ex-girlfriend's lottery winningsNews Story
A Seminole County, Florida, man who sued his ex-girlfriend for half of her $1 million Florida Lottery winnings went away empty-handed Tuesday, her attorney said. After 1 days of testimony, Circuit Judge Alan Dickey ruled in favor of defendant Lynn Anne Poirier in what's known as a directed verdict meaning the plaintiff's case was deemed legally insufficient. Howard Browning, who is unemployed, and Poirier, a Seminole County special-education teacher for more than three decades, had lived t
Feb 8, 2012, 10:57 am - Lottery News

Florida Lottery education spending investigatedNews Story
Lottery money still invested in education, but targeted differently than it used to be Florida Lottery education dollars that used to go mainly to K-12 education are now being spread into several different educational initiatives, raising the ire of local Superintendents, but pleasing those who feel that education spending should be more diverse. Nearby 4 billion dollars was spent on the Florida Lottery last year. It's money lawmakers promised would go to education. But according to infor
Feb 7, 2012, 10:04 am - Lottery News

$50M Lotto winner a no-show for celebrationNews Story
It can be hard to tell who is more impacted by a $50 million lottery ticket. Richard McMullen, the 54-year old Tallahassee resident and jackpot winner, has stayed out of the public eye since the lottery results were announced last week. Florida Lottery officials said he has requested minimal media coverage. The Circle K where he bought the multi-million-dollar ticket, on the other hand, hasn't stopped buzzing with attention and customers hoping for lightning to strike a second time. It
Jan 6, 2012, 7:33 am - Lottery News

State lotteries get creative to drive higher salesNews Story
The Arizona Lottery has spent four years ramping up efforts to get players to part with a dollar. It raised its average jackpot by 8 percent and introduced pricier scratch-off games that cost from $5 to $20 but yield bigger winnings, up to $1 million. The tickets now come in brighter colors on thicker paper, and more of them get displayed in bigger cases to catch the eyes of would-be winners lining up at grocery and convenience stores. The lottery also increased its advertising budget by roug
Dec 12, 2011, 8:05 am - Lottery News

Woman accused of killing Florida lottery winner sued by victim's estateNews Story
The estate of slain Lakeland, Florida, lottery winner Abraham Shakespeare has filed another lawsuit against the woman accused of killing him. The latest lawsuit, filed last week in Tampa's courthouse, accuses Dorice DeeDee Moore of taking more than $1 million from Shakespeare. The estate is seeking 121 items, including many pieces of jewelry, a Rolex watch, six computers and two cameras. The valuables were seized by Hillsborough County deputies during the investigation into Shakespeare'
Oct 14, 2011, 5:47 pm - Lottery News

Florida Walmart stores to sell lottery ticketsNews Story
Florida may have just hit a jackpot. Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has agreed to end its long-standing refusal to sell lottery tickets in its U.S. stores after reaching a deal with the Florida Lottery. Starting in early October the retailer will embark on a pilot program at 27 Walmart neighborhood markets that stretch across central, southwest and South Florida. The first Walmart stores expected to begin selling lottery tickets are located in Orlando. Ticket sales will start o
Sep 27, 2011, 8:55 pm - Lottery News

Lotto winner shot by deputies wins settlementNews Story
Includes video report The Seminole County Sheriff's Office will pay a $3.2 million settlement to a Florida Lottery winner who was shot in his own back yard. Deputies said they thought Robert Swofford Jr. was a burglar when they opened fire on him in April 2006. Swofford, who won $60 million in the Florida Lotto, was shot four times. He filed a lawsuit in 2007, claiming the sheriff's office failed to properly train its deputies. Lawyers decided to settle the lawsuit last week.
Sep 1, 2011, 7:46 am - Lottery News

Florida Lottery to update branding, Web siteNews Story
The Florida Lottery is not aging gracefully. Voters enthusiastically approved state-run gambling 25 years ago, but the Lottery is struggling to keep up with today's demands. Sales are lagging. Its approach to online media is sluggish. And other forms of gambling, such as Indian-run casinos and Internet cafes, are luring customers away from lucky numbers and scratch-offs. State officials are well aware of the shortcomings. Gov. Rick Scott's choice to lead the agency is a branding expe
Aug 1, 2011, 6:56 am - Lottery News

Millions in lottery jackpots expire every yearNews Story
If you are the ticket holder for the winning Massachusetts Mega Millions consolation prize with the numbers: 2, 7, 10, 16 and 29, we have some bad news for you. You have just missed your chance to claim $250,000. The jackpot expired Wednesday. In six more days, on Aug. 3, a $900,000 jackpot is in danger of becoming little more than wishful thinking for some unlucky winner in Florida. ABC News have found at least six other jackpots ranging from $10,000 (two in Arizona expiring Aug. 8 and Au
Jul 29, 2011, 9:31 am - Lottery News