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First proposed N.C. lottery ad beats to different drummerNews Story
The first television commercial for the North Carolina Education Lottery apparently will be looking literally to drum up support. In a concept draft of the ad released by the lottery commission late Tuesday, a man sits in a chair in his home, starting to scratch off a lottery ticket with a coin. Then a drum roll is heard, and the man gives an excited look to his wife before a marching band walks through their living room and plays a fight song. A narrator then talks about the new lottery,
Mar 15, 2006, 6:44 am - Lottery News

N.C. lottery director says lower payouts could hurt salesNews Story
The law requiring the North Carolina lottery to return at least 35 percent of all ticket sales to state education programs could inhibit sales and ultimately cost the state money, according to the lottery's executive director and other experts. To meet the requirement, North Carolina will pay out less to winners than neighboring states offer. Tom Shaheen, director of the state lottery and a past president of the North American lottery trade association, said that could mean fewer tickets ar
Mar 9, 2006, 7:18 am - Lottery News

N.C. Lottery officials mum on payout of first ticketsNews Story
$1, $2 and $5 scratch-off games now printing for March 30 debut Scratch-off tickets for North Carolina's first lottery games will range in cost from $1 to $5, lottery officials said Tuesday. Lottery director Tom Shaheen shared this and a few other details about the games after a lottery commissioners meeting Tuesday. But Shaheen balked when reporters asked him details about the games, such as what the biggest payout would be for a scratch-off ticket. If I tell you what it's about, i
Mar 8, 2006, 6:46 am - Lottery News

N.C. Lottery Update: Moving QuicklyNews Story
More than 200 stores in Forsyth County have applied to sell scratch-off tickets for the scheduled start of the new North Carolina lottery March 30. Although most of them are convenience stores and grocery chains, applicants also include a miniature-golf course, several tobacconists, at least one pawn shop and a store that sells Indian food and spices. At one store, Blue Ridge Tobacco Candle Outlet on Cloverdale Avenue, customers should soon be able to buy scratch-off tickets with their c
Mar 6, 2006, 8:15 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

N.C. Lottery machines installedNews Story
Lottery machines are coming to counter tops at convenience stores around North Carolina. In fact, at least one was installed Thursday. Contractors began installing machines at the Kangaroo store on Castle Hayne Road in New Hanover County Thursday morning. It's one of the first devices in Southeastern North Carolina. Lottery machines are already in place in Wilmington at the Scotchman on 23rd Street and a Kangaroo store on Oleander Drive. The stores get something for giving up the space th
Feb 24, 2006, 8:56 am - Lottery News

N.C. Lottery may end video pokerNews Story
The establishment of a state lottery in North Carolina will have no legal effect on video poker games in North Carolina, at least not immediately. However, some who would like to see video poker banned altogether won't rule out using the lottery as one means of curtailing the use of the video games. Gov. Mike Easley even mentioned last fall at a press conference called to discuss the startup of the lottery that the state-sponsored gambling games could lead to an end of video poker.
Feb 24, 2006, 8:11 am - Lottery News

N.C. Lottery finally gets a logoNews Story
It may not be pretty, but at least the North Carolina Lottery finally has adopted a symbol to represent itself. The state's lottery logo will reflect the character of the state, not a generic burst of fireworks. At a commission meeting last week, Tom Shaheen, the lottery's executive director, presented a proposed logo with a flourish, removing a sheet from a logo perched on an easel - but that clearly puzzled some commissioners. After scrapping the failed attempt, officials today approved
Feb 22, 2006, 11:30 am - Lottery News

New N.C. Lottery ad agency picked after earlier winner withdrawsNews Story
The North Carolina lottery hired a new ad agency Tuesday to promote its games now less than six weeks from the start after the agency that originally won the job refused to put up a $500,000 bond to ensure its vendors were paid. The firm Wray Ward Laseter of Charlotte takes over a three-year contract to lead the lottery's projected $8 million a year advertising campaign. Howard Merrell Partners of Raleigh, the top bidder last week, quit a few days after winning the contract Feb. 14.
Feb 21, 2006, 12:20 pm - Lottery News

N.C. lottery is quickly piling up a lot of dirty laundryNews Story
Editorial By Asheville Citizen-Times published February 19, 2006 The North Carolina Lottery may bring extra money into state coffers, but the questionable ethics surrounding its inception and the controversies it continues to generate raise serious questions about whether the cost outweighs the value. Last week two new conflicts presented themselves. The first confirms the worst suspicions of many lottery opponents and the fears of some lottery supporters. The second is a slap in the face
Feb 20, 2006, 8:30 am - Lottery News