How a gaming geek with a checkered past pulled off the biggest lottery scam in U.S. history

Comment #27

Coin Toss — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 14:39:38 GMT

This thread does make one wonder about those who insist systems exist to beat RNG games, think about it.

Comment #26

noise-gate — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 13:42:54 GMT

Nice to see you repost, since you deleted your post after l showed up last night, which got me *smh- this shows character

As your signature says- l continue to believe

Comment #25

noise-gate — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 13:37:16 GMT

How kind of you WG.l think you going to enjoy your copy when it arrives. Nothing like turning pages l say as well. One of the funniest lines l have read in a book l recently finished, a few months back was If the earth had an anus, it would be Yemen - can' recall the author though.Be well.

Me.

Comment #24

CDanaT — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 11:54:14 GMT

If memory serves me correctly, I saw that very same quote in a Penthouse forum letters to the editor article a few decades ago

Comment #23

wizeguy — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 06:11:08 GMT

I'm glad you were able to finally get a copy , NG. Happy reading! The story line intrigued me and when it came with your Dad's high recommendation I had to get a copy. I waited a bit before buying a copy to give you first shot at one for yourself since you've been looking forever but there were multiple ones up on Ebay so I didn't dally too long in ordering one for myself.

My Dad was a technical writer so his tastes in reading were most focused on tech things but Mom always had a book she was... [ More ]

Comment #22

noise-gate — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 04:37:34 GMT

Its about this...

1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars

Amok

by George Fox

Comment #21

noise-gate — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 03:36:40 GMT

Bought the book on Ebay, it arrived today from Cedar Rapids.

Page 9. When he was below the direct light cast by the sun, already setting behind the mountains, he unsheathed the sword..

Comment #20

Artist77 — Sat, 17 Mar 2018 19:09:57 GMT

Amen.

Comment #19

WinOnly — Sat, 17 Mar 2018 16:45:10 GMT

If he knew the numbers he choose was a death wish

Comment #18

gatorsrok — Sat, 17 Mar 2018 03:46:29 GMT

I wonder if the second chance drawings conducted by computer are susceptible to being rigged as well. There have been some anomalies in the Florida drawings.

Comment #17

noise-gate — Sat, 17 Mar 2018 03:19:36 GMT

Thank you so much WSLM! You made my day, honestly

Comment #16

realtorjim — Sat, 17 Mar 2018 00:02:59 GMT

yet know the results he might have fed the julian date as a seed value .

Another possibility, which is quite feasible considered only a few dates per year could be utilized, is recognizing a day within a month with five Saturday's (or any day for that matter) in it, such as June of this year. That way an actual date in number form does not stand out in the code, and could actually blend in with thousands of other lines.

Maybe something modified along these lines?

If $date- modi... [ More ]

Comment #15

wizeguy — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 23:53:56 GMT

Ebay also, author George Fox. I look forward to reading both. Thanx for posting. I'm often looking to expand my personal library.

Comment #14

Artist77 — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 23:31:11 GMT

I need to read this book

Comment #13

Artist77 — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 23:27:46 GMT

Ok. Great info! I took a html course years ago and know a little about it. I never knew what most lotteries used for their seed #. I played around with an algorithm using the date of the month as the seed or days since that specific lottery game began, and could only get 2 winning numbers of 6 about 25% of the time. Maybe I need to randomize the seed number now. Very useful info. Thank you

Comment #12

Sarge0202 — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 23:17:54 GMT

Even though HTML (javascript) has it's own number generator, the article mentioned he wrote his own and they used it for different lotteries in different states. It could have been written in any language on any OS, as long as the results were straight text or XML, the webserver could pick it up and make HTML code for the web page. The trick to a good RNG is where you get the seed or the first number plugged into it. Most use the system clock, millisecond value when you launch it. Another trick... [ More ]

Comment #11

winsumloosesum — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 23:02:59 GMT

Listed on Amazon used for $6.00

Comment #10

Artist77 — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 22:08:01 GMT

I get it. Thanks!!! Makes sense.

So what is the likely programming langage? Just html

Comment #9

Sarge0202 — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 22:04:02 GMT

Article: The program would let him narrow the drawing's winning odds from 5 million to 1 to 200 to 1.

So with a pick 6, having 10 numbers would give you 210 combinations.

Artist77: Why could he only manipulate the code for a few days a year?

Because if he set it for year round, the auditing company could have detected the fraud easier. By setting it for 2-3 days a year, it would be unlikely that they tested on that date. I am surprised the auditors didn't check the code, even with... [ More ]

Comment #8

Artist77 — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 21:52:05 GMT

I do think he did it for the intellectual challenge.

Something is not right in that they would hire a felon and he was cleared via a background search.

Why could he only manipulate the code for a few days a year?

Who will play him in the Lifetime movie? Jack Black

Comment #7

noise-gate — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 18:04:39 GMT

Nope, have not read any of his novels.

Here s the money question: If Eddie was not caught, do you think he would still be siphoning off money from his system or would he have said the risk is too great, time to back off for good? Talking about books, my Father once told me that one of the best novels he had ever read was one called Amok about a Japanese soldier who fled into the jungle during the war, forgot it was over, and the following years would continually executed folks who entered in... [ More ]

Comment #6

Coin Toss — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 16:06:51 GMT

Has anyone read The Winner by David Baldacci?

Granted it's fiction and deals with a Pick 10 but it's kind of a parallel.

Comment #5

winsumloosesum — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 13:35:59 GMT

You wonder if any state that uses random number generating software that each lottery commission investigate every single winning top prize.

Conduct new background checks on every employee and see if friends/relatives cashed in grand prize tickets.

This story probably opened up an entirely new thought process for not only lottery commission hiring but investigating grand prize winners.

Comment #4

Slick Nick — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 13:25:02 GMT

In the end, all crooks get caught. Is it worth it? I'd rather go to work,make an honest living, and play the lottery in a fair and square way.

Comment #3

CDanaT — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 13:13:28 GMT

Interesting story, thanks for the update. Oh how the simplest things bring down the schemers and the cheats.Now, if the lottery officials were unwilling to listen are still employed, I truly hope they are all removed.

Ping Pong Balls rule

Comment #2

Bleudog101 — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 13:04:23 GMT

Great story, big egg for MUSL.

Greed got the best of him and couldn't resist buying the ticket he programmed to win.

What happens if he doesn't repay the money

Comment #1

JADELottery — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 12:28:55 GMT

Good Read.

How a gaming geek with a checkered past pulled off the biggest lottery scam in U.S. history

Lottery Post — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 11:48:49 GMT

12-15-18-29-38-41.

Eddie Tipton jotted down the numbers on a yellow sticky note as he sat at his desk in Urbandale more than a decade ago.

Around him were more sticky notes filled with number sets that he carefully wrote down as they spun up on his computer screen. The numbers were generated by a cryptic two-line software code Tipton had planted in his employer's computer system at the Multi-State Lottery Association.

The office building was virtually empty as Tipton ran test after test... [ More ]