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New Mexico lawmakers introduce bill to end lotteryNews Story
Lawmakers cite concerns over gambling-funded education By Kate Northrop A bill introduced to New Mexico state legislature proposed the idea of ending the New Mexico Lottery entirely. Lawmakers in New Mexico are discussing a bill that may shut down the state lottery, citing concerns about where money for the state's scholarship fund comes from. We're funding education through gambling, State Representative Matthew McQueen (D) said. Bipartisan House Bill 369, if passed, will en
Feb 21, 2023, 6:46 am - Lottery News

NM Lottery Pick 4 computerized drawing glitch made many tickets worthlessNews Story
Players can get a refund IF they held onto losing tickets By Todd Northrop When the New Mexico Lottery introduced its latest lottery draw game, Pick 4, in early February, players had no idea that many of the tickets they purchased were completely worthless with no chance of winning. That's because the game's computerized drawings were incorrectly programmed, making combinations with repeat digits impossible to be drawn. Only combinations in which every digit was different were able to b
Feb 21, 2019, 7:25 pm - Lottery News

New Mexico Lottery creating game tied to sportsNews Story
The board that oversees the New Mexico Lottery voted unanimously Tuesday to move forward with creation of a game tied to the outcome of sporting events. David Barden, the lottery CEO, said he expects the game to go on sale in four to six months. Details of the game are being worked out, but it will involve a parlay-like wager. A player will pick possible outcomes of at least three sporting events and will have to choose all correctly to win. It's not your grandmother's lottery game, Ba
Oct 31, 2018, 10:57 am - Lottery News

New Mexico reduces college scholarships funded by lotteryNews Story
Lottery given minimal flexibility to increase sales College scholarships funded by New Mexico lottery proceeds will cover 60 percent of tuition costs for the next school year down from 90 percent as state education officials announced changes Wednesday aimed at stretching dwindling revenue for the financial aid program. The lottery-based scholarships help pay tuition for about 26,000 students at public universities, four-year colleges and two-year community colleges throughout the state. N
May 31, 2017, 3:58 pm - Lottery News

New Mexico House committee endorses changes in lottery operationsNews Story
Financial bonuses for state lottery officials and contractors would be tied to increases in scholarship money available to New Mexico college students under a bill that got unanimous bipartisan approval from a House committee Monday. House Bill 250, sponsored by Rep. Jason Harper, R-Rio Rancho, also would require the state lottery to transfer money from unclaimed cash prizes usually $2 million to $4 million a year to the lottery scholarships fund. In addition, the bill would halt a pilot p
Feb 28, 2017, 3:40 pm - Lottery News

N.M. Lottery chief wants to scrap earmark for educationNews Story
The head of the New Mexico Lottery says his organization could provide more money for students if the Legislature scrapped a requirement pledging 30 percent of ticket sales to college scholarships. David Barden, chief executive officer of the lottery, said eliminating the requirement would allow for larger cash prizes and higher-priced lottery tickets, such as a $20 model. In the long run, Barden said, that change would pay off with more money from the lottery going to the college scholarship
Oct 3, 2016, 7:49 am - Lottery News

New Mexico's gas pump lottery sales face legal hurdleNews Story
The Play at the Pump pilot program is facing a legal test regarding how New Mexico customers purchase their Powerball and Mega Millions lottery tickets. As Lottery Post reported last week, consumers can now purchase New Mexico lottery tickets at some gas pumps without having to enter a store. However, the New Mexico House and Ways Committee subsequently objected that state law allows for the purchase of lottery tickets by only cash and checks, not debit cards as used at the pump, and attempts
Aug 9, 2016, 10:40 am - Lottery News

New Mexico lottery players now able to buy tickets at gas pumpsNews Story
A state lawmaker is concerned over a new program that allows people to purchase lottery tickets at gasoline pumps in New Mexico. The new program started a couple weeks ago despite a state statute requiring all lottery tickets be purchased only with cash or check and not with credit cards. It prints it out right there nice. I guess it'll save me a lot of time, a lottery player said Tuesday. Another Las Cruces resident is concerned: They need to have some sort of legislation to stop peop
Aug 4, 2016, 10:42 am - Lottery News

New Mexico Lottery celebrates 20 years in operationNews Story
The New Mexico Lottery is celebrating its 20th anniversary, unveiling a special logo and rewarding players with extra rewards points. Since launching on April 27, 1996, the New Mexico Lottery has sold approximately $2.6 billion in tickets with prizes of more than $1.4 billion. And, New Mexico Lottery sales resulted in many positive economic impacts, among which were: 53 prizes of $1 million or more including five Powerball jackpots totaling $526.1 million; More than $174 million in retail
Apr 27, 2016, 11:04 am - Lottery News

Falling lottery sales pinch college scholarshipsNews Story
The ticket-buying frenzy that erupted over January's $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot wasn't enough to reverse a long-running trend: Proceeds from lottery games aren't keeping pace with the higher education costs they were supposed to pay. Now lawmakers in at least eight states have made or are considering making dramatic cuts to scholarship programs funded by lotteries. The programs, aimed at opening access to college by providing nearly free tuition, include one at the University of New Mexic
Mar 3, 2016, 12:23 pm - Lottery News