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JustMaybe

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Feb 20, 2025, 11:40 pm

The spotlight is on the Texas Lottery.

The recent jackpot wins are ruffling feathers in high places.

I got my popcorns and following the news closely.

I believe winning the lottery jackpot is a 💯 % factor of luck.

May Fortuna, goddess of chance or lot vindicate me.
garyo1954

Texas
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Feb 21, 2025, 11:19 am

Definitely a mess in Austin. Words like money laundering and allegations of illegal purchases (underage persons buying tickets) make it sound like a devious plot to game the state.

When the Lt Governor is making public statements that these apps have to go or we'll drop the lottery it has made some waves.

Part of the attention comes from it happening in Austin, right under state government noses.

Lt Governor Dan Patrick says the shop that sold the ticket sells 4 times the number of tickets as the second largest seller. He visited and found what he termed as at least 30 terminals cranking out tickets.

He has a good point if you're a small money player ($5 $20).

I'm probably here unless I'm not.
Dreaming would be a perfectly useless function if it's only purpose was to entertain.
JustMaybe

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Feb 21, 2025, 12:46 pm

Quote: Originally posted by garyo1954 on Feb 21, 2025
Definitely a mess in Austin. Words like money laundering and allegations of illegal purchases (underage persons buying tickets) make it sound like a devious plot to game the state.

When the Lt Governor is making public statements that these apps have to go or we'll drop the lottery it has made some waves.

Part of the attention comes from it happening in Austin, right under state government noses.

Lt Governor Dan Patrick says the shop that sold the ticket sells 4 times the number of tickets as the second largest seller. He visited and found what he termed as at least 30 terminals cranking out tickets.

He has a good point if you're a small money player ($5 $20).

When you have allegations of a courier buying tickets for groups in Malta (a tax haven for the rich) for a State Lottery game, then that is really unfair for the local player.

These are very serious allegations.

However, like in most things, the system always works for the rich.

Will buy my one MM and one PB ticket for the weekend and see if I get lucky.

I believe winning the lottery jackpot is a 💯 % factor of luck.

May Fortuna, goddess of chance or lot vindicate me.
garyo1954

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Feb 21, 2025, 1:32 pm

To me it's a serious problem. Like playing poker with a guy who can buy the four aces anytime he chooses.

They thought they solved a loophole by requiring tickets to be sold in Texas. What they didn't expect was the third party services to set up shop in the state.

I imagine one of the things they will look at is limiting the number of terminals a location can acquire.

With Texas being a major contributor to MM and PB talking about the end of the Texas lottery will affect the national games as well. Not that I think they will end it but I expect some major changes in the purchase of tickets

I wouldn't play a rigged poker game and imagine no Texan would.

I'm probably here unless I'm not.
Dreaming would be a perfectly useless function if it's only purpose was to entertain.
rcbbuckeye

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Feb 21, 2025, 1:39 pm

Shut down sales to couriers, and/or limit terminals.

Texas legislature came close to shutting down the lottery several years ago. There might be a another shot at it again. The only thing that stopped it last time was they realized they would have to replace money going to the schools, which was considerable. Can't recall the amount, thinking it was $5 million?

JUST LOOK AT THE ODDS OF ANY JACKPOT GAME, THAT WILL TELL YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
garyo1954

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Feb 21, 2025, 2:00 pm

Another option that they aren't talking about is calling the payout which would hurt all players. And I don't think anyone wants that.

But if they capped the payout at 25million it would remove the temptation of buying a win while maintaining the monies that go to student and veteran services.

Doesn't seem like an easy solution.

I'm probably here unless I'm not.
Dreaming would be a perfectly useless function if it's only purpose was to entertain.
rcbbuckeye

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Feb 21, 2025, 3:38 pm

I just read an article that claims Gary Grief and Ryan Mindell were aware and ok with courier ticket sales even though it was and is against the law.

JUST LOOK AT THE ODDS OF ANY JACKPOT GAME, THAT WILL TELL YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
JustMaybe

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Feb 21, 2025, 7:46 pm

Quote: Originally posted by garyo1954 on Feb 21, 2025
Another option that they aren't talking about is calling the payout which would hurt all players. And I don't think anyone wants that.

But if they capped the payout at 25million it would remove the temptation of buying a win while maintaining the monies that go to student and veteran services.

Doesn't seem like an easy solution.

I think there is a lottery, either in the UK or Canada that maxes out at 70M. When it gets to 70 it does not continue to roll and some one has to win it somehow. Don't recall the details and I don't want to Google either lol.

I believe winning the lottery jackpot is a 💯 % factor of luck.

May Fortuna, goddess of chance or lot vindicate me.
garyo1954

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Feb 21, 2025, 8:28 pm

Quote: Originally posted by JustMaybe on Feb 21, 2025
I think there is a lottery, either in the UK or Canada that maxes out at 70M. When it gets to 70 it does not continue to roll and some one has to win it somehow. Don't recall the details and I don't want to Google either lol.

I really don't want to see it max, maybe just max it at 25% cash value for online, third party and app sales? Everybody should't be punished for a few people who can't follow or enforce the rules

The Texas Scorecard news site has done several articles on it. The latest is one is about the lawsuit filed by Dawn Nettles and a class of players against IGT, the former lottery director, and a lottery site for fraud. No, the lottery site is not Lottery Post

Apparently the lottery site placed machines in a south Austin location and another in Waco. Accordingly there is a video of children taking part in what they allege is a money laundering scheme.

To me these are serious charges. I think at this point it comes down to how far they want to follow the paper trail and how much do they want the public to know.

And who will be the fall guy?

I'm probably here unless I'm not.
Dreaming would be a perfectly useless function if it's only purpose was to entertain.
Booyah B

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Feb 22, 2025, 9:39 pm

Yeah that same store just sold a $1M $50 scratch ticket in Jan of this yr. You got places in TX that haven't sold a jackpot ticket in more than 5 yrs and you got this store that had two in less than 2 mths. I'm glad this is being looked at cause I know I've been cheated out of a jackpot many times 🤣. I want my money TX!!!!
Coin Toss

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Feb 22, 2025, 10:55 pm

Now the spotlight is really on the Texas lottery!

Austin store that sold $83.5M winning lottery ticket under investigation by Dan Patrick

https://www.yahoo.com/news/austin-store-sold-83-5m-035817429.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

Those who run the lotteries love it when players look for consistency in something that's designed not to have any. So many systems, so many theories, so few jackpot winners.

There is one and only one 'proven' system, and that is to book the action. No matter the game, let the players pick their own losers.
Justing618

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Feb 23, 2025, 12:23 am

Quote: Originally posted by JustMaybe on Feb 20, 2025
The spotlight is on the Texas Lottery.

The recent jackpot wins are ruffling feathers in high places.

I got my popcorns and following the news closely.

Waiting for all those "it's fair" "it's not rigged "comments to pop up! 😂 J/k . But for real. All they gotta do is limit terminals. Unless there filling out play slips. I dunno the specifics of this. But from what I gathered it's an investment firm buying all the tickets. And they also" supposedly " have a way to drive up jackpots. I dunno though. Hopefully it's not a computer draw game. 🤷
Stat$talker

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Feb 23, 2025, 1:36 am

Quote: Originally posted by Booyah B on Feb 22, 2025
Yeah that same store just sold a $1M $50 scratch ticket in Jan of this yr. You got places in TX that haven't sold a jackpot ticket in more than 5 yrs and you got this store that had two in less than 2 mths. I'm glad this is being looked at cause I know I've been cheated out of a jackpot many times 🤣. I want my money TX!!!!

"I'm glad this is being looked at cause I know I've been cheated out of a jackpot many times 🤣. I want my money TX!!!!"

Huuummm!!, Naah WHYY duzz that Statement sound sooo familiar?
garyo1954

Texas
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Feb 23, 2025, 1:17 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Justing618 on Feb 23, 2025
Waiting for all those "it's fair" "it's not rigged "comments to pop up! 😂 J/k . But for real. All they gotta do is limit terminals. Unless there filling out play slips. I dunno the specifics of this. But from what I gathered it's an investment firm buying all the tickets. And they also" supposedly " have a way to drive up jackpots. I dunno though. Hopefully it's not a computer draw game. 🤷

The state tried to rectify the problem several years age as Rcbuckeye mentioned.

They instituted two policies

1. Tickets were to be purchased at a physical terminal within state boundaries

2. That to qualify to be a licensed retailer a person, business or entity must sell other products and not sell lottery as a sole business. That meant things like liquor, tobacco, groceries, gas, etc.

Once this took effect, former director Gary Grief took a trip to California to woo a certain lottery site to move their operations to Texas which they did.

This is at least part of the group that installed and operate the terminals in south Austin which sole the winning ticket. As Lt Governor Dan Patrick said they sell at least 4 times the number of tickets as the second largest retailer in the state.

Now Mindell and Grief are refusing to answer questions about their actions and possible cooperation in assisting this alleged criminal activity. They have claimed Sovereign immunity., which might mean the new policies interfered with the performance of their job and they were therefore not obligated to follow them.

Complicating that part is the allegations that the governor Gary Grief in private, or in confidence, that he need not follow them. In any case, they were ignored which is at least partly the reason for the lawsuit alleging fraud.

And now the Lt Governor gets involved, apparently aghast that this was allowed to occur right under their noses in the state capitol

Most people would say it was bound to happen since anytime you put money and politicians in the same room, they start looking at what's best for their career, and the importance of money for the state and then convince themselves that jobs play an important part in this decision.

Naturally, they don't want to limit people's opportunities to purchase tickets so they'll come up with some bandaid idea to instill confidence in the lottery rather than blow the place up and write some laws with teeth. They've already been asked why Gary Grief is still receiving a state pension.

And then it's back to politics as usual.

I'm probably here unless I'm not.
Dreaming would be a perfectly useless function if it's only purpose was to entertain.
Justing618

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Feb 23, 2025, 9:22 pm

Quote: Originally posted by garyo1954 on Feb 23, 2025
The state tried to rectify the problem several years age as Rcbuckeye mentioned.

They instituted two policies

1. Tickets were to be purchased at a physical terminal within state boundaries

2. That to qualify to be a licensed retailer a person, business or entity must sell other products and not sell lottery as a sole business. That meant things like liquor, tobacco, groceries, gas, etc.

Once this took effect, former director Gary Grief took a trip to California to woo a certain lottery site to move their operations to Texas which they did.

This is at least part of the group that installed and operate the terminals in south Austin which sole the winning ticket. As Lt Governor Dan Patrick said they sell at least 4 times the number of tickets as the second largest retailer in the state.

Now Mindell and Grief are refusing to answer questions about their actions and possible cooperation in assisting this alleged criminal activity. They have claimed Sovereign immunity., which might mean the new policies interfered with the performance of their job and they were therefore not obligated to follow them.

Complicating that part is the allegations that the governor Gary Grief in private, or in confidence, that he need not follow them. In any case, they were ignored which is at least partly the reason for the lawsuit alleging fraud.

And now the Lt Governor gets involved, apparently aghast that this was allowed to occur right under their noses in the state capitol

Most people would say it was bound to happen since anytime you put money and politicians in the same room, they start looking at what's best for their career, and the importance of money for the state and then convince themselves that jobs play an important part in this decision.

Naturally, they don't want to limit people's opportunities to purchase tickets so they'll come up with some bandaid idea to instill confidence in the lottery rather than blow the place up and write some laws with teeth. They've already been asked why Gary Grief is still receiving a state pension.

And then it's back to politics as usual.

Interesting to say the least. I really don't know much about it before I read what you wrote. My thoughts before hand.......I was thinking they set up a store front. Packed it full of lottery machines. Then just started printing tickets day and night. I also heard a something about where they do something to drive up jackpots. I dunno though. 🤷And I seriously think there's probably some kinda wording in the game rules. Where they cannot be held liable if they cheated. Sorta like casino's have. "Malfunctions void play" Then I see how the government completely spouts out lies daily. And they for the most part run lotterys. A real eye opener for me was when I googled the store that sold the 2 billion dollar jackpot ticket in california. Then I googled the billion dollar jackpot store in california. Then Google mapped both stores. The distance was under 70 miles from each other I can't remember the exact. I think it was 67.2 miles apart. Then I find out California has no state tax on lottery winnings. I mean I get California's dense population. But 2 stores. Under 70 miles apart. And no state tax.....And billions of dollars. I dunno ... 🤷

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