Tenn. lawmakers want to force lottery to drop computer draws

Comment #39

tnwatchdogs — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 03:15:50 GMT

I am new to lotterypost and I thought I was the only person waisting my time with the TN lottery. they finally let 361 fall. You have a better chance at going with a quick pick. I save every ticket that I play with TN lottery because I want to be fully reimbursed.

Comment #38

psykomo — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 21:03:11 GMT

IT would-DA could-DA should-DA ...............BUT,.....?????????

WILL the people CALL-E-mail-TALK to there state officials,.....?????????

OTHERWISE IT will just blow-by B business/USUAL!!!

IF the people in TN. donot SPEACK-OUT

LOL

PSYKOMO

Comment #37

KY Floyd — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 05:27:38 GMT

Do you think the lotteries just go down to Best Buy and pick up a copy of RNG for Lotto and then leave it running (with all default settings unchanged), only drawing a set of numbers when they need one for a real drawing? If it's good RNG program, the only way to predict the numbers would be to exactly replicate all of the conditions required for the generation of the drawing. Each drawing will be a unique event using a new seed, and there won't be any next result to predict. That the numbers mi... [ More ]

Comment #36

KyMystikal — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:09:58 GMT

I would like to know how much money other states are paying to show they draws. I think the best thing TN could have done to cut the cost was just air the drawing on their website, that way they don't have to pay any tv time. The get the numbers broadcasted for free during the news so if anyone wanted to see the draw they could watch it online. I don't even know why I mentioned this because TN is going to do whatever the %$#@ they want to do. I'm getting tired of TN lottery and I'm not going to... [ More ]

Comment #35

four4me — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:00:48 GMT

Right you are the source code is proprietary information.

Comment #34

JustFrozen — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:35:04 GMT

How about so people can't use the code to predict the numbers? In the computer world there's basically no such thing as random numbers. If the source code were available, people would be able to reconstruct the number generator and see what the next result would be. Not only that, but the company that made the software would basically be giving the blue prints for their product away to the world

Comment #33

KY Floyd — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:27:52 GMT

He's specifically referring to being allowed to see the code that's responsible for the drawings. Using a computer program to draw the numbers without letting the public see the code is analgous to doing ball drawings where the only part visible to anyone but the manufacturer of the machine is the rack the selected balls end up in after popping out of the mixing chamber. Every once in a while one of the balls doesn't make it into the mixing chamber for one reason or another, but the problem (if... [ More ]

Comment #32

four4me — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 06:12:03 GMT

Some time ago the Tennessee lottery had a short video about the computerized drawings it showed the whole process from beginning to end.

Comment #31

Stack47 — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:09:51 GMT

Wheel and Jeopardy are on the Cleveland station at the same time too. If the 7:29 live drawing is advertising, it's the only commercial that people regularly change channels to watch when it is aired. The local TV stations probably had to bid for the right to air the live drawings and the lottery pays the production cost.

I still don't see how it would cost $5 million to have a little 30 second - 1 minute drawing.

If that is the annual cost, the daily cost would be about $13,500 at 7 dra... [ More ]

Comment #30

ryanm — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:59:18 GMT

There is an upside to this - this may put an end to computerized drawings once and for all

Comment #29

LOTTOMIKE — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:13:42 GMT

Any code used for lottery drawings, voting, or anything else that requires transparency and public trust should be readily available to anyone who wants to examine it.

Exactly,so when can we be invited to see how this thing works everyday

Comment #28

KY Floyd — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 16:00:00 GMT

I dont think the lotteries are anywhere near stupid enough to deliberately risk anything that keeps drawings from being random, but the idea of reverse engineering the code brings up an important point. Any code used for lottery drawings, voting, or anything else that requires transparency and public trust should be readily available to anyone who wants to examine it.

Comment #27

littlejsing — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 15:07:11 GMT

I totally agree! People who want to watch Deal or No Deal know where to find it! The same would be for the lottery drawings. I do not like Bredesen's response to the legislature's intervention in the computerized drawings, from the first coverage of Bredesen introducing Hargrove and defending her outrageous salary!! The 5 million dollar figure is bogus propaganda to try and keep it her way. The software is crap! That was proven from the beginning when it was so quickly compromised! I suspect Har... [ More ]

Comment #26

konane — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 12:50:00 GMT

Under Results ...... top menu bar ....... go to State Lottery Report Card for a rundown of evey lottery.

Comment #25

JUDYAL — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 10:14:23 GMT

does new hampshire have computerized drawing.i sent a email to the lottery commissinor she said they were not and also they would stay with 2 draws a day on the pick 4 and 3 which really thows off the odds

Comment #24

four4me — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 06:43:05 GMT

Tennessee was putting out big bucks for live drawings because they had several TV stations televising the drawings at the same time. I think it was like 5 stations. No wonder the bill was high.

I still say Tennessee lottery only needs one station to host the drawing and the others can show the results on their screens in a little box like other state lottery's do.

Comment #23

Lucky$even — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 04:25:40 GMT

I don't know about other places, but in Michigan when they had the ball drawings, they did them between the 7 and 7:30 shows (Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy) and Jeopardy started up right after the drawing, so no time for commercials. Besides, the commercials would be for the benefit of the stations, not the lottery. The lottery has to pay for that minute or so of airtime because it's time that would otherwise be set aside for commercials. I still don't see how it would cost $5 million to have a... [ More ]

Comment #22

MaddMike51 — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 19:37:57 GMT

This is just gibberish to me...might as well be talking in martian.

Comment #21

psykomo — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:43:47 GMT

IF TN. is going to sell $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

BOOTLEG Balls

They should cut Lotto ticket PRICE'$$$$

in>>>>>>>>HALF

BUT and remember there is ALWAY's a BUTT out there............

U-get watcha U

PAY>>>>>>FOR!!!

PSYKOMO

Comment #20

Stack47 — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:14:18 GMT

Are the live drawings programing, commercials, or both?

I think they are both and might even profit the lottery because when people change channels to watch the drawings, they will see the commercials at end of the previous show and will see the commercials before the next show while they are checking their tickets. Jeopardy is on after the drawing on the TV station I watch and the station will scroll the numbers on the bottom of the screen after the first commercial break while the contestan... [ More ]

Comment #19

four4me — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:05:12 GMT

While you don't normally expect to see repeating digits or numbers in computerized drawings they do occur just like ball drawings. Some people play what could be called a back up bet. They play the last number that came out hoping for such an occurrence. Seemed like it worked out very well for some people since the payout grew for the third draw. I'm not condoning computerized drawings by a long shot. It could also have been a software hiccup. Since theoretically it's not supposed to happen as t... [ More ]

Comment #18

KyMystikal — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:33:33 GMT

I seen this posted before but I never really noticed it until now. I see more then just you seen and caught it because of the payouts going up on each draw. I wish I had seen it or caught it but since they changed to the computer I really couldn't care for the TN lottery. I still track doubles on pick three but that's about it.

Comment #17

konane — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:42:32 GMT

I hope the Tennessee Lottery is able to secure a director and staff which will

(1) listen to player input

(2) listen to player input [not a typo]

(3) assure all aspects of its operations are transparent to reinvent its image, restore player confidence in its honesty.

Comment #16

tntea — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:56:42 GMT

I would love to have that job too at that pay.

As for commercials costing...

Isn't commercials just advertising that have to pay big bucks during the time people watch TV the most. I would say that an advertising would cost more around the time they were about to drop the balls. Would you not think so?

Think about the Super Bowl commercials... They are the highest paid commericals in a year.

With that being said... the ball droppings for the TV station should be free and t... [ More ]

Comment #15

tntea — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:52:38 GMT

aye

Comment #14

four4me — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:45:16 GMT

Thats just great at a time when Tennesseans need his support and he might possibly take notice of these posts. I would think since you detest computerized drawings so much that you and all Tennesseans might want to convince the governor of that, instead you berate him publicly.

Mike you have to remember ultimately it's the people that have the power but in order to get them to implement change you must stick together and act as one voice.

Comment #13

four4me — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:58:32 GMT

Every lottery has operating expenses and thats where the committee should start trimming the fat and finding ways to conduct live ball lottery drawings that are cost effective. Hargrove claims that they have conducted drawings in the past and had several TV stations in on the deal this isn't necessary as they only need one station to conduct the drawing and the rest of the stations that are willing could just post the numbers in a little box one the right hand portion of the TV screen during the... [ More ]

Comment #12

Littleoldlady — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:20:09 GMT

I have to say that he is the best govenor that I have seen in TN. He is FOR the state. He has to be the one to make the tough choices. He is correct in his statement ..let the lottery commission do their job. Instead of getting mired down in the lottery mess, the legislature could give them a list of questions to investigate. The first question on the list I would give them is how does using balls costs 5 million more per year? Is that the salaries of the people who draw the balls? If it is, I W... [ More ]

Comment #11

LOTTOMIKE — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 06:42:37 GMT

personally i can't stand Gov. Phil Bredesen.for one he took away a half million peoples health insurance here including people with epilepsy,cancer,etc. including me when i was sick myself at the time.he completely ignores things he doesn't want to bother with or dismisses them without looking into it further.the statement about him makes me think he'll be the roadblock in the whole deal.i wish bredesen would just step back and let other people handle this and go take care of other issues.... [ More ]

Comment #10

four4me — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 06:23:17 GMT

This article is a little scary. It makes me feel bad that the elected officials cant work together to solve this matter. Jason Mumpower is on the right tract. Gov. Phil Bredesen should realize it's the people who play the lottery and they should have had a say so in the mater. The lawmakers agreed to a lottery and now he doesn't want them to be a part of reorganizing the lottery drawings. The people depend on the lawmakers to make decisions for them when they do not have a direct say so in the m... [ More ]

Comment #9

JADELottery — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:10:30 GMT

Hey TN,

When you do go to Natural Ball Drawn Numbers, send me that PC you've been using to pick those Unnatural Computer Generated Number. I want to reverse engineer / decomplie the code used to pick those wack numbers. Maybe see if there is something on there that shouldn't be on there, you-know-what-i'm-sayin'... or at least you should... know-what-i'm-sayin'... ...you'll find out.

Comment #8

MaddMike51 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 02:56:06 GMT

The only problem I would have with Rebecca Hargrove being replaced is that the Iowa Lottery might try to recruit her since Iowas lottery head just retired.I hope they promote from within.

Comment #7

Todd — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 02:47:14 GMT

Amen to that.

Comment #6

Todd — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 02:46:50 GMT

I hope you're send this info to the legislators mentioned in the story (and in past stories). They can use this when pushing for the change.

They need all of our help to make it happen .... get involved

Comment #5

LOTTOMIKE — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 02:28:08 GMT

even if they only broadcast the ball draws on the internet and not on television i'd still be happy.just bring back the balls....and get rid of the witch.

Comment #4

LOTTOMIKE — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 02:25:51 GMT

earlier this month this happened.....

CASH 4 3/4/2008 Evening 2371 $87,800.00

CASH 4 3/3/2008 Mid-Day 1372 $13,900.00

CASH 4 3/3/2008 Evening 1723 $53,400.00

funny thing is i bet the tennessee lottery let it slip on by but i caught on.

Comment #3

Lee123 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 02:25:37 GMT

Who are they going to pay it too.

Comment #2

castles — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 02:05:16 GMT

As much as I think that Rebecca did a great job getting the TN lottery up and running in a short amount of time, she has now cashed it all of her credibility, and so I second the motion for her resignation. All in favor, say aye...

Comment #1

MaddMike51 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 01:58:35 GMT

Dropping computer drawings and returning to live ball drawings would go a long way in regaining the faith of lottery players.Getting rid of Rebecca Hargrove would go even further.

Tenn. lawmakers want to force lottery to drop computer draws

Lottery Post — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 01:08:18 GMT

There is new discussion in the Tennessee Legislature about the possibility of the state lottery going back to using ping-pong balls to select the Cash 3 and Cash 4 winners.

In 2007, a computer programming error prevented anyone who played repeated digits, such as two fives in a row, from winning.

The error was discovered Aug. 20 when lottery officials contacted the system designer, Smartplay, about their concerns.

The lottery is asking Smartplay, and the company that certified the syste... [ More ]