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Mega Millions boosts Texas lottery salesNews Story
Lottery ticket sales have increased an average of 30 percent since Texas joined the multistate lottery Mega Millions two weeks ago, state officials said Thursday.But the increase accompanied an advertising push to promote the new game. Lottery officials cautioned that more time is needed to determine the long-term impact of Mega Millions on existing games.The two-week revenue on overall lottery ticket sales increased from an average of $56 million before Mega Millions to $65 million during the p
Dec 19, 2003, 3:18 am - Lottery News

Oregon man wins lottery millionsNews Story
A 37-year-old Medford construction worker claimed his prize from a $21.7 million Megabucks jackpot Monday and promptly went into seclusion.Deron Hammond needed a couple days to contemplate the future after winning the second-largest prize in Megabucks history, said Ray Martin, a spokesman for the Oregon Lottery. He kind of shied away from publicity, Martin said.But Hammond didnt shy away from Mondays presentation ceremony in Salem, where seven friends and family members accompanied him as he
Dec 18, 2003, 4:13 am - Lottery News

Lottery clock at 58 daysNews Story
As deadline nears, work moves swiftlyEach morning, somebody changes the big numbers on a chalkboard easel in the lobby of the Tennessee Lottery's busy headquarters.Today it reads 58 Days! That's the countdown to the targeted first day of lottery ticket sales, on or before Feb. 10. With thousands of dollars in incentive bonuses for lottery employees tied to that date - and millions in college scholarships to be funded by August - work is moving swiftly here and across the state.Contractors are
Dec 15, 2003, 6:39 am - Lottery News

Trying to Sell California's LotteryNews Story
The lyric California, here we come, right back where we started from is part of:a) A song heard by millions of viewers when the series The O.C. appears on Fox Broadcasting.b) A song that perfectly captures the bizarre circumstances of what may well be the strangest advertising account review ever to take place in the West.c) Both of the above.(The answer is, of course, c, and those who chose it must read daily newspapers enough to recognize a column-opening gambit when they see one.)The re
Dec 12, 2003, 5:27 am - Lottery News

Bank gets lottery businessNews Story
Lottery officials Monday officially named First Tennessee to handle millions in banking services for the upstart game.The bank was the lowest bidder at $51,000 over three years. Additionally, First Tennessee also scored the highest in different categories such as geographic coverage and service considerations, say officials.Services provided under the contract will include basic banking and weekly electronic sweeps of tickets sales from retailers.Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation (TEL) CEO
Dec 9, 2003, 4:49 am - Lottery News

New lottery has Huntsville residents buying, playingNews Story
When the Texas Lottery Commission revamped the Texas Lotto format in May, the game was advertised as a Whole New Ball Game. On Wednesday, several more new balls were thrown into that mix with the introduction of the Mega Millions multistate lottery game.Mega Millions, a massive game that is also played by residents in 10 other states, was introduced to Texans on Wednesday amid busy ticket sales.The first drawing, which is for a pot of $44 million, is set for tonight.While the rules of the game
Dec 5, 2003, 5:56 am - Lottery News

Lottery buffs fear impact on Lotto TexasNews Story
There's a new buzzword these days at the Texas Lottery Commission: cannibalization.It's being used to describe how much the new Mega Millions multi-state lottery will eat away at the sales of the 11-year-old favorite, Lotto Texas.For the first time Wednesday, people will be able to buy a chance at the Mega Millions jackpot in Texas. There are people out there ready to step up first thing in the morning, people that are motivated by high jackpots, said Reagan Greer, executive director of the com
Dec 3, 2003, 5:31 am - Lottery News

Audit finds S.C. lottery operates efficientlyNews Story
An audit of South Carolina's nearly 2-year-old lottery found only a few areas for improvement in cost controls.The South Carolina Education Lottery agreed with almost all the recommendations made in the audit released Tuesday and has implemented many of them, commission Chairman John C.B. Smith Jr. wrote in his response.The lottery has kept costs below the statutory maximum of 15 percent of revenues, but should look at cell phone and car usage for potential cost savings, the audit said. Smith sa
Dec 3, 2003, 5:25 am - Lottery News

S.C. Lottery Director Opposes Sales Tax PlanNews Story
Lottery director says Sanfords plan would reduce funds for educationGov. Mark Sanfords plan to charge sales tax on lottery tickets could cost South Carolina millions in lost education dollars, members of the S.C. lottery commission were told Tuesday.Lottery director Ernie Passailaigue said Sanfords plan to apply the 5 percent sales tax to lottery tickets could cost the state anywhere from $36 million to $154 million in education funding.Sanford wants to use the sales tax on lottery tickets, as w
Dec 3, 2003, 5:22 am - Lottery News

Audit of Colorado lottery to be released todayNews Story
Intensive review examines overall performanceAn audit of the Colorado Lottery is scheduled to be unveiled today, capping an extensive review that focused on its overall performance.As part of their focus, state auditors centered on contract management, lottery records show.Specifically, auditors inquired about Scientific Games International, the company that recently won the multimillion-dollar contract to run Powerball, Lotto and Cash 5 games. The Georgia-based company runs the lottery's scratc
Dec 1, 2003, 5:19 am - Lottery News