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Drug dealer must forfeit lottery jackpotNews Story
Texas man wins $5.5 million in a lottery, but must give it back after drug dealing conviction.A Mexican citizen must forfeit about $2.75 million in Texas lottery winnings because of his drug-trafficking conviction, a federal appeals court said on Wednesday.Jose Luis Betancourt, 52, was arrested after making a cocaine delivery shortly after accepting $5.5 million for having the winning ticket in the December 11, 2002, lottery drawing, according to court documents.A jury convicted Betancourt, who
Aug 18, 2005, 4:06 pm - Lottery News

Texas Lottery May Eliminate Lotto Bonus NumberNews Story
'5 + Bonus' format was a flop with playersLotto Texas players might be saying bye-bye to the bonus ball.One of the proposals being floated by the Texas Lottery Commission is to eliminate the new five numbers and bonus ball matrix and return to a 'pick six of fifty' (6/50) format for the Lotto game, which is the flagship of the Texas Lottery. I don't think that has been discussed specifically, but I think we're discussing all formats for the matrix, to determine what would be the best, to make it
Aug 17, 2005, 7:48 pm - Lottery News

Texas Lottery considering guaranteed jackpotsNews Story
Texas Lottery officials are considering guaranteed jackpots to help avoid inflated estimates like the one in June that prompted a consumer complaint to the state attorney general and cost the agency director his job.New jackpot prize guidelines proposed Monday include a guarantee the winner collect either the advertised amount or the amount calculated by sales, whichever is greater. The guarantees would apply to jackpots paid with the 25-year annuity, not to winners who choose the immediate cash
Aug 16, 2005, 6:53 am - Lottery News

Texas Lottery has history of frequent firingsNews Story
Current and former Texas Lottery employees believe the threat of being fired was used to intimidate anyone who raised questions about lottery operations.Texas Lottery Commission C-F-O Lee Deviney was fired after he questioned the agency's practice of advertising inflated Lotto Texas jackpots.His managers say his termination was unrelated to that.Deviney was among five lottery employees fired in June under the at-will provision, bringing the total to eight so far for 2005.Documents attained by Th
Aug 1, 2005, 9:39 am - Lottery News

Texas Lottery critic turns down selection committee postNews Story
A lottery watchdog who helped expose inflated Texas Lotto jackpots and a math professor whose students found problems with lottery advertisements were among 10 people chosen to help find the next leader of the struggling Texas Lottery Commission, officials said Friday.Dawn Nettles, a frequent critic of the lottery, later withdrew from the search committee, saying her participation would be a conflict of interest.C. Tom Clowe, who chairs the three-member commission that oversees the agency, appoi
Jul 24, 2005, 4:27 pm - Lottery News

Former Texas Lottery employee indicted in scamNews Story
Woman accused of taking money from those hoping to be ticket sellersA former employee of the Texas Lottery Commission has been indicted for allegedly defrauding retailers who applied to become Texas Lottery vendors.The indictment charges Taneil Gage with one count of theft by a public servant of more than $500 but less than $1,500. The offense is a state jail felony punishable by up to two years behind bars.The alleged scam in June and July 2003 preyed on retailers who didn't meet minimum credit
Jul 20, 2005, 11:33 am - Lottery News

Judge rules lottery cash split properlyNews Story
Divorce case diminishes returnsAfter the Texas-sized taxes, a month-long trial, and some hefty legal bills, a $20 million Texas Lotto jackpot that is part of a local divorce case is shrinking.But whatever the amount, Circuit Court Judge Robert Childers ruled Tuesday that there was no conspiracy by Cordova, Tennessee resident Larry Stack and co-worker Christine Fellows to hide the money from his wife, Rosemarie Fair Stack.Phase two of the lawsuit, the divorce itself, is scheduled for October. Wit
Jul 20, 2005, 8:03 am - Lottery News

Texas Lottery paid for goods it never receivedNews Story
The embattled Texas Lottery Commission is investigating why the agency paid a Nevada company more than $300,000 for goods it hasn't received.The lottery's purchasing department authorized an advanced payment to JB Associates in February 2004 to buy promotional items such as umbrellas, coffee mugs and vinyl wallets, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported in its online edition today.JB, based in Reno, Nev., received at least $332,427, but the lottery said it is still owed about $311,000 in undeli
Jul 16, 2005, 9:39 am - Lottery News

Texas Lottery looking at all possibilities for Director PositionNews Story
In a gesture of openness, Texas Lottery commissioners announced Monday that, for the first time, a committee of state officials and private citizens outside the lottery will help find the agency's next leader. The commission accepted the resignation of former executive director Reagan Greer, who announced his departure Friday, two weeks after he admitted approving several inflated Lotto Texas jackpot estimates recommended by his staff.Commissioners named Greer's former deputy and longtime lotter
Jul 12, 2005, 10:39 pm - Lottery News

Texas Lottery Names Acting DirectorNews Story
A top official closely involved in an investigation into inflated Lotto Texas jackpot advertisements was named acting executive director of the lottery commission today.Gary Grief, who has worked for the Texas Lottery Commission since its creation, was promoted from deputy executive director. He will oversee day-to-day operations at the nation's third-largest lottery, replacing Executive Director Reagan Greer, who resigned Friday.Greer stepped down two weeks after admitting he approved a staff r
Jul 11, 2005, 11:16 pm - Lottery News