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W.V. Lottery officials target 'coin-pusher' machinesNews Story
Retailers could lose licenses if they have coin-pusher devices Coin-pusher machines are popping up at limited video lottery businesses in violation of state law, and the West Virginia Lottery is warning operators that it will yank their licenses if they do not get rid of the devices. Coin-pusher machines are touted as skills games by manufacturers and distributors. Players insert coins in the machines in an attempt to push other coins, tokens, jewelry or other prizes off rotating shelves a
Jun 2, 2006, 8:39 am - Lottery News

464 gaming machines seized in S.C.News Story
Businesses say despite payouts, games aren't illegal gambling South Carolina authorities seized 464 gaming machines and computers Thursday from 13 York County businesses accused of hosting illegal gambling just over the N.C. state line. Drawing attention were an increasing number of Internet cafes where customers played video slots with prepaid cards. Business owners defended them as legal sweepstakes. Authorities, however, said the cafes, which pay out money to winners, are thinly veile
Mar 3, 2006, 3:43 pm - Lottery News

In Canada, betting on hockey is no gambleNews Story
In the packed food court beneath the Hyatt Regency at the corner of Sainte-Catherine and Jeanne-Mance, Christian, a 19-year-old part-time college student, tosses the North Face jacket on the chair across from him and sits down with his A W cheeseburger, fries and Coke. And begins poring over his sports betting slips. Between bites, Christian fills in circles like he is taking a sports SAT, pausing to think before committing to his answers. On this day, the subject is Olympic hockey.
Feb 20, 2006, 9:15 am - Lottery News

Proposal takes aim at Lottery sales pitch to teensNews Story
Some lawmakers want to prohibit the Washington Lottery from advertising to anyone under 21 after learning the agency wants to increase its sales to teenagers. The proposed advertising ban has been added to a House bill that would increase the gambling age to 21 in nontribal card rooms and minicasinos. The amendment tells the Lottery to be a little more cautious, said Rep. Mary Helen Roberts, D-Edmonds, the bill's prime sponsor. Lottery spokeswoman Jacque Coe, said the agency's 2005-07
Feb 9, 2006, 8:42 am - Lottery News

Wealthiest schools lose out in Okla. LotteryNews Story
Eight public school districts aren't receiving any of the $75 million allocated to common education this year from Oklahoma's lottery and racetrack/tribal casino laws.The reason: The schools are considered independently rich from local taxes on property and oil and gas production.That means those districts must use local money exclusively to fund teacher pay raises and full-day kindergarten, the two main programs Gov. Brad Henry cited in lauding the state's gambling partnership.Several other dis
Dec 26, 2005, 11:39 am - Lottery News

Iowa Lottery approves self-ban for playersNews Story
The Iowa Lottery Board voted Tuesday to allow lottery players to self-ban themselves from winning game prizes in order to stem problem gambling.After pondering the self-ban move for a few months, and following announcement of record Iowa Lottery sales of $210 million last year, the board felt the time was right for a self-ban, Iowa Lottery CEO Ed Stanek said. We want to maximize our proceeds for the state with everyone playing in moderation, Stanek said. We don't want our success to be at the
Dec 7, 2005, 6:57 am - Lottery News

Casino coupon error gives 11,000 people $525News Story
Roughly 11,000 patrons of Harrah's Joliet Casino in Illinois got a big surprise in the mail last week: a coupon good for $525 in wagering.But casino officials were surprised more than anyone else.The casino's direct-marketing vendor mistakenly made the coupons for an amount much higher than the usual $15 to $20 that was intended to be the value, Harrah's said.The company will honor the coupons, which were sent out last week, said Harrah's Illinois regional president Joe Domenico. The announcemen
Nov 21, 2005, 9:42 am - Lottery News

Former lottery 'numbers' operator rebuilds life after jailNews Story
At the height of his career operating an illegal lottery called the numbers, Otis Ray was running four-digit bar tabs in his $70,000 Titans stadium suite and rubbing elbows with Nashville's elite.Now, just months out of prison, Ray, 53, is working as night watchman at a local Comfort Inn and rebuilding his life on $6-an-hour wages.Ray spent nearly 25 years working in the underground lottery. Just one month after he was sent to federal prison in December 2003, the Tennessee Lottery sold its fir
Oct 1, 2005, 9:34 am - Lottery News

Will N.C. create a lottery-video poker partnership?News Story
North Carolina House Speaker Jim Black, D-Mecklenburg, argues that North Carolina's new education lottery will remove the allure of another hotly debated form of gambling -- video poker. People tell me the lottery will probably pretty much do away with video poker, said Black, who backs the video poker industry. Those people who want to do some recreational gambling can certainly get their kicks with the lottery. Other video poker supporters hope the opposite will happen.A few states have made
Sep 12, 2005, 6:51 am - Lottery News

Indiana lottery sales decline has officials probing illegal gamesNews Story
The Hoosier Lottery, faced with slumping profits, is struggling to get more people to play ticket games in a world of electronic gambling.In the budget year just ended, lottery officials expect to see about a 5 percent decline in profits, which reached $199 million last year, according to W. Edward Benton, the lottery's chief financial officer.So what's eating into ticket sales? Smaller Powerball jackpots, for one thing, something Hoosier Lottery officials can't control.The approximately 22,00
Jul 11, 2005, 12:06 pm - Lottery News