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Lottery revenue important to a host of businessesNews Story
If the New York Lottery vanished tomorrow, many store owners would suffer. Their businesses rely on the 6 percent commission they get from lottery sales. I would not be in business without the lottery, said Mike Palencar, who owns two convenience stores in Webster, N.Y. He estimates that lottery commissions amount to just 5 percent of his stores' total profit. But sales commissions aren't the only benefit for the lottery's 16,000 vendors statewide. People coming to the stores to buy lott
Jan 30, 2007, 10:36 pm - Lottery News

Sales increase as Lottery adds new gamesNews Story
While the number of games has expanded and receipts have greatly increased, the basic structure of the New York Lottery and its mission have remained relatively unchanged over the four decades it has been running, lawmakers and state officials say. The games, then and now, siphon money away from illegal gambling and help to pay for schools. The lottery was approved by voters, at the urging of then-Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, in a referendum to amend the state constitution in 1966. The nu
Jan 30, 2007, 8:51 pm - Lottery News

Lottery mega-jackpots generating less 'buzz'News Story
Rhode Island Lottery chief predicts Powerball and Mega Millions will merge in the future Just a few years ago, a $240 million Powerball jackpot would have drawn long lines at gas stations and convenience stores across the state. But last week there was little buzz. And forget about lines. Call it jackpot fatigue. Rhode Islanders' appetite for gambling has lowered. And we're not alone. Elsewhere in the region, sales of lottery tickets and other forms of gambling are either less th
Jan 27, 2007, 9:23 am - Lottery News

Georgia Lottery sales hit record $1.56 billionNews Story
The Georgia Lottery Corp., which finances the HOPE Scholarship program, Thursday announced record sales for the first half of fiscal year 2007. Lottery President and CEO Margaret DeFrancisco said the six-month numbers were $28.4 million ahead of the same period last year, which was a record at the time. The fiscal year began July 1. Sales for the first half of fiscal year 2007 totaled $1.56 billion, with $400 million going to education more than $4.1 million ahead of last year. The rest
Jan 19, 2007, 1:21 pm - Lottery News

Mass. Lottery officials concerned about big revenue dipNews Story
The highly successful Massachusetts State Lottery experienced a $71 million decline in revenues in the first five months of the fiscal year, according to figures filed with the governor's office, sparking concern among municipal officials. Most lottery money is funneled back to the state's communities. The lottery right now is extraordinarily important to cities and towns, said Geoffrey Beckwith, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association. We're hoping that the lott
Jan 19, 2007, 12:36 pm - Lottery News

Ohio Lottery halts Pick 4 betting on final score of Buckeyes gameNews Story
Ohio Lottery players were betting that the numbers 4114 would be luckier for them than the Buckeyes. So many people placed wagers based on the 41-14 final score of Florida's victory over Ohio State in the national championship game that the lottery stopped players from choosing the numbers Tuesday morning, spokeswoman Marie Kilbane said. The lottery automatically stops players from selecting numbers for the Pick 3 and Pick 4 games once the potential payout reaches $6 million, Kilbane sai
Jan 10, 2007, 10:57 am - Lottery News

N.J. Lottery breaks weekly sales recordNews Story
The New Jersey Lottery today announced that it had a record-breaking week for instant-ticket sales at the end of 2006. Lottery officials said $28,563,561 worth of 'scratch-off' tickets were sold from December 21-27. The previous record for one week of sales was $26.9 million December 22 thorugh 28, 2005. Total lottery sales for fiscal 2006 was also a record $2.4 billion.
Jan 5, 2007, 3:55 pm - Lottery News

Maryland Lottery raffle game sells fewer tickets than hopedNews Story
Countdown to Millions, Maryland's raffle-like lottery, didn't sell as many tickets as lottery officials had hoped, and the drawing was delayed one day to sell more. At $20 apiece, they were the most expensive tickets ever. The Maryland Lottery held its drawing Monday night for Countdown to Millions new game featuring the Maryland Lottery's best odds ever at winning $1 million. The lottery sold about 325,000 tickets, short of the lottery's 420,000-ticket goal, said lottery spokeswoman Carol
Jan 2, 2007, 2:36 pm - Lottery News

N.C. Lottery sales fall shortNews Story
North Carolina's lottery sales have tumbled since July, and the game's director predicts that under the best scenario the lottery will generate $75 million less for education than projected in the current state budget. The sales of numbers games, such as Powerball and Cash 5, are up slightly since July, but scratch-and-win ticket sales have plummeted. Scratch, or instant, tickets are supposed to provide the growth in lotteries nationally, but in North Carolina, sales shrank from $52 milli
Dec 26, 2006, 10:46 am - Lottery News

Georgia Lottery's Millionaire Raffle tickets going fastNews Story
More than 40% of available $20 tickets have been sold Raffle games have become the hottest lottery item of the holiday season, and the Georgia Lottery's Millionaire Raffle game is no exception. After just two weeks of sales, more than 40 percent of the game's tickets have been purchased. Georgia Lottery players have their best chance ever to win $1 million, but time is running out. Millionaire Raffle is a limited-time game from the Georgia Lottery with four $1 million prizes. A total o
Dec 6, 2006, 1:01 pm - Lottery News