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Washington Lottery takes down AI website after it generates topless photo of userNews Story
Controversy surrounding preventative measures for inappropriate AI image generation By Kate Northrop The Washington's Lottery AI-powered website was discontinued following a user complaint that it had generated a topless photo using her face. What began as an innocent way to help lottery players envision their lives after a big win turned into a disturbing controversy after the Washington Lottery's AI-powered website essentially generated softcore pornography of one of its users.
Apr 5, 2024, 6:59 pm - Lottery News

Audit opens up conversation about possible collusion between Maryland lottery players and vendorsNews Story
Report reveals lack of investigative procedures for high-winning individuals By Kate Northrop A report conducted by the Office of Legislative Audits in 2022 revealed security concerns that suggest possible collusion between lottery winners and vendors in the state of Maryland. The report, published and viewable online by the Maryland Department of Legislative Services, reviews a fiscal compliance audit of the State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (SLGCA) between Jan. 3, 2017 and
May 25, 2022, 4:49 pm - Lottery News

California Lottery under fire for giving away $212,500 in Scratchers on 'Ellen'News Story
Comedian Ellen DeGeneres drew wild cheers from the studio audience of her television talk show in December when she announced each person in attendance would receive a $500 bundle of Scratchers tickets from the California State Lottery. Lottery officials saw it as a publicity boon, but a whistleblower complaint filed by some lottery employees argues the agency's giveaway of the tickets which have a combined face value of $212,500 should be investigated as a misuse of funds, according to docum
Feb 6, 2020, 5:32 pm - Lottery News

California Lottery director resigns amid investigationsNews Story
California State Lottery Director Hugo Lopez is stepping down immediately, he announced in an email to lottery staff on Friday. Lopez has led the department since 2015. It's been under scrutiny from the Department of Justice and the State Controller's Office since August, when anonymous employees sent a letter to former Gov. Jerry Brown's office alleging misconduct among senior executives at sales conferences. Lopez in his message said he was proud of the department's performance, particul
Jun 10, 2019, 8:18 am - Lottery News

Mississippi lottery board adopts rules on ethics and recordsNews Story
The governing board for the upcoming Mississippi Lottery is setting rules for ethics and public records. It is also taking steps to hire bankers to provide financial services and a person to run day-to-day operations. Mississippi is one of the last states to create a lottery after legislators voted to do so in August, partly as a way to provide money to pay for roads and bridges. Republican Gov. Phil Bryant nominated the five lottery corporation board members several months ago, and th
Apr 16, 2019, 2:09 pm - Lottery News

California Lottery official dismissed amid investigationsNews Story
A senior California Lottery executive has been dismissed from his position six months after anonymous state employees sent a letter to the Governor's Office complaining about rowdy behavior among a group of the lottery's top brass. Deputy Director of Sales James David Cole's dismissal comes amid ongoing investigations into hiring practices and alleged misconduct by senior lottery executives during a 2016 sales conference. Cole was notified Feb. 1 that his employment would be officially ter
Mar 26, 2019, 9:23 am - Lottery News

After bawdy photos, California Lottery workers demand resignationsNews Story
Five veteran Lottery employees on Thursday demanded that senior department executives resign amid investigations into hiring practices and alleged misconduct on a work-related trip two years ago. They addressed the state Lottery Commission one month after an anonymous writer sent a letter to officials in Gov. Jerry Brown's administration that included pictures of senior Lottery leaders carrying on at a Southern California bar. It also included anecdotes describing disparaging treatment of emp
Sep 21, 2018, 12:21 pm - Lottery News

California Lottery cancels sales meeting in aftermath of rowdy party photosNews Story
The California Lottery is postponing a planned sales conference in the wake of an anonymous employee's recent complaint to Gov. Jerry Brown about senior leaders behaving inappropriately at a Southern California bar two years ago. The department on Tuesday announced that it's delaying the conference while it retools some of the training it intended to offer to focus on human resources and nondiscrimination policies. The conference was expected to take place next week in Sacramento. The
Aug 15, 2018, 7:10 am - Lottery News

California Lottery officials seen in bawdy photos sent to governorNews Story
A package of bawdy photos allegedly showing senior state Lottery leaders carrying on at a Southern California piano bar, with one image showing an official putting his head up a woman's shirt, was sent to Gov. Jerry Brown's office last week in an appeal from an anonymous employee urging the administration to investigate the department. Brown's office late Thursday said he is asking the attorney general's office to look into the letter and the attached photos. The contents of the letter ar
Aug 10, 2018, 7:51 am - Lottery News

Former CT Lottery chief pays $11,000 in fines, givebacksNews Story
Frank Farricker, the former chairman of the Connecticut Lottery Commission's board of directors will pay a $5,000 penalty and an additional $6,300 restitution to the state as part of a settlement over improper benefits he received while acting president and CEO of the Lottery. In a consent order announced Thursday by the Office of State Ethics, Farricker gave back money he had previously claimed for internet services at his home, high-definition cable TV with HBO and regional sports, personal
Oct 13, 2017, 8:41 am - Lottery News