Candy Crush-type game for state lotteries debuts
A new puzzle game, Star Match, looks to inject new life into state lotteries.
Available first in the state of Georgia, the gem-matching game puzzle think Bejeweled or Candy Crush lets players pay $2 per play for a chance to win up to $10,000.
Publisher LottoInteractive, which released the game Friday (on Android, iOS and desktop computers), aims to attract smartphone gamers who perhaps don't play traditional scratch-and-match lottery games, as well as lottery junkies looking for the next b ...
Sep 19, 2016, 6:15 pm - Lottery News forum
Prosecutors say 2 more men may be linked to lottery riggings
Prosecutors in the case of a former lottery insider convicted last year in a national Hot Lotto jackpot-rigging scandal are seeking to subpoena records from two attorneys they believe could be tied to the plot.
Documents filed on Tuesday by the lead prosecutor in the case, Assistant Iowa Attorney General Rob Sand, seek to subpoena records from Texas attorneys J. Thad Whisenant and Luis Vallejo.
Authorities assert that immediately after investigators attempted to interview Whisenant about t ...
Aug 24, 2016, 6:21 pm - Lottery News forum
Internal investigation concludes Tipton acted alone to rig lottery drawings
An internal investigation into a national jackpot-fixing scandal has concluded that a single former lottery employee was responsible for any drawings that were manipulated, but it failed to uncover proof of his guilt.
The report for the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) found that the group's former security director, Eddie Tipton, worked independently to commit any fraud without help from current or former employees. But investigators also said they failed to determine how he pulled it ...
Aug 10, 2016, 9:40 pm - Lottery News forum
New Mexico's gas pump lottery sales face legal hurdle
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 forum
New Mexico lottery players now able to buy tickets at gas pumps
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 forum
Online lottery sales not approved by Massachusetts lawmakers
Massachusetts lottery players are going to have to wait a little bit longer if they want to buy lottery tickets online.
In their most recent economic development bill passed Sunday, Massachusetts legislators chose not to authorize the state lottery to begin online gaming.
Lawmakers said that they wanted to address other priorities. Those included $500 million in funding for MassWorks infrastructure, and $45 million for new equipment in career and technical education. A new tax deduction to ...
Aug 2, 2016, 3:40 pm - Lottery News forum
Kentucky Lottery now offers problem gambling info via text or chat
For nearly two decades, people in Kentucky have been able to call 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) to speak with a counselor concerning issues with problem gambling. This service has now been expanded to include text and online chat capabilities.
This program is administered by the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling (KYCPG), and is being underwritten by the Kentucky Lottery. Thousands of callers have been helped or received information on problem and addicted gambling through the helpline, KY ...
Jul 30, 2016, 6:20 pm - Lottery News forum
Iowa court reverses part of Tipton's lottery fraud conviction
An Iowa appeals court on Wednesday upheld a former lottery employee's conviction for rigging the computer system to generate the winning ticket in a $16 million jackpot, but reversed a conviction for attempting to cash in on the ticket.
The conviction stems from Eddie Tipton's work for the Iowa-based Multi-State Lottery Association, or MSLA, which produces computers that generate random numbers for lotteries in multiple states. As an employee of the association, Tipton was barred from playing ...
Jul 28, 2016, 8:23 am - Lottery News forum
Connecticut men charged with rigging machines in lottery scheme
Investigators uncover more than 20 retailers suspected of cheating
State authorities continue to investigate the rigging of a Connecticut Lottery game they say increased the number of winning tickets and the payout to retailers.
One store, operated by two Wallingford men charged earlier this year, took in over $200,000 in additional prize payouts due to the scheme, authorities say.
Rahul Gandhi and Prakunj Patel, both of 37 Jobs Road, Wallingford, were arrested in March by the state Dep ...
Jul 13, 2016, 7:03 pm - Lottery News forum
WV Lottery officials keeping eye on PA internet gambling bill
West Virginia Lottery officials are closely monitoring legislation making its way through the Pennsylvania General Assembly that would significantly expand legalized gambling in that state.
Those guys are aggressive, I'll just say that, acting lottery director John Myers said Tuesday of the legislation, which would make Pennsylvania the fourth state to legalize internet gambling, would allow state casinos to operate satellite locations with up to 250 slot machines each and would allow slot m ...
Jul 12, 2016, 11:06 pm - Lottery News forum
