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Mass. Lottery retailers fight online sales billNews Story
The Massachusetts Lottery says it could stop being successful unless a bill allowing online ticket sales becomes law, while retailers say their future success hinges on the bill not becoming law. Now the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection will weigh the benefits and drawbacks of an online lottery. The Lottery is seeking authority from the Legislature to offer its current products scratch tickets, draw games, Keno and more to customers over the Internet, arguing that the Lottery's survival
Sep 20, 2017, 8:03 am - Todd - Lottery News

Trials for Tipton brothers charged in lottery scandal delayedNews Story
Trials for brothers charged with ongoing criminal conduct in Iowa for allegedly fixing lottery games to collect jackpots have been delayed. District Court Judge Bradley McCall entered an order Wednesday moving the trial for Eddie Tipton to July 10. His trial had been scheduled to begin Feb. 13. His brother, Tommy Tipton, a former Texas justice of the peace, was facing trial Jan. 23. His trial date was moved to Sept. 11. Attorneys for both sides agreed to the rescheduling. Eddie Tipto
Jan 8, 2017, 10:58 am - Todd - Lottery News

State audit questions Georgia Lottery business practices despite record profits to educationNews Story
Georgia sells more lottery tickets per capita than all but one other state lottery, according to a state audit of the Georgia Lottery Corporation, the quasi-governmental agency that runs it. But a steadily declining portion of lottery revenues flow back to the education programs the lottery is required by law to fund, and the corporation that runs the lottery needs to reform its business practices, according to auditors in the Performance Audit Division of the Georgia Department of Audits and
Jan 2, 2017, 5:31 pm - Todd - Lottery News

Illinois lawmakers call for investigation into lotteryNews Story
State lawmakers from both political parties are calling for an investigation of how the Illinois Lottery managed scratch-off games in response to a report showing the lottery didn't award many of the biggest prizes in the biggest games. I just don't think we should promise people things we don't deliver, said state Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie. And if we say we have a game that's going to pay X and it doesn't pay X, then we've lied to the people who bought the tickets. Lang was joined by stat
Dec 13, 2016, 8:24 am - Todd - Lottery News

Alleged lottery scandal conspirator to enter new pleaNews Story
A Texas businessman charged in Iowa's lottery rigging investigation is scheduled to enter a new plea often a signal that a plea agreement has been reached with prosecutors. Robert Clark Rhodes pleaded not guilty in May to a felony charge of ongoing criminal conduct stemming from his alleged participation in a 2011 scheme to cash in on a Hot Lotto ticket worth more than $14 million. Rhodes, 48, reportedly is a close friend to Eddie Tipton, a former security official at the Urbandale-based Mult
Nov 14, 2016, 8:35 pm - Todd - Lottery News

State lawmaker calls for Illinois Lottery probe in light of audit findingsNews Story
Lottery head resigns, another possible winner payout shutdown looms A state lawmaker is calling for an investigation of the Illinois Lottery after a recent audit revealed it had violated the state finance law. The audit found that the Lottery circumvented the state's budget impasse by prepaying $20 million to take part in future multi-state lottery games, such as Powerball and Mega Millions. State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, said he wants either Illinois State Attorney General Lisa Mad
Jun 12, 2016, 8:45 am - Todd - Lottery News

New law gives Québec Lottery power to shut down competitorsNews Story
Canada's major Internet service providers, a Quebec First Nations group and potentially the federal government are lining up against Quebec legislation that will lead to the blocking of gambling websites chosen by the government agency Loto-Qu bec. Under Bill 74, the new law passed last month in Quebec's National Assembly, Loto-Qu bec can ask Vid otron, Bell Canada, Cogeco Inc., Rogers Communications Inc. and other ISPs to block the sites of the agency's competitors or face fines of up to $10
Jun 2, 2016, 8:51 am - Todd - Lottery News

Third suspect surrenders in national lottery rigging scandalNews Story
A third man charged in a still-unfolding, multi-million dollar lottery rigging scandal investigation surrendered to authorities in Iowa on Thursday, his attorney said. Robert Clark Rhodes II was arrested last spring in his home state of Texas by authorities there, after Iowa prosecutors charged him with two counts of fraud for helping a then-top lottery security official allegedly rig multiple jackpot drawings. Rhodes challenged the arrest in court, claiming investigators did not have suff
Apr 28, 2016, 3:43 pm - Todd - Lottery News

How a group of MIT students gamed the Massachusetts LotteryNews Story
Even within a university as famously offbeat as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Random Hall has a reputation for being a little quirky. According to campus legend, the students who first lived there in 1968 wanted to call the dorm Random House until the publishing house with that same name sent them a letter to object. The individual floors have names, too. One is called Destiny, a result of its cash-strapped inhabitants selling the naming rights on eBay; the winning bid was $36 from
Feb 23, 2016, 1:11 pm - Todd - Lottery News

Minnesota Lottery director resigns after timeshare inquiryNews Story
Minnesota State Lottery director Ed Van Petten abruptly resigned Friday, coming after an inquiry found that taxpayers have reimbursed the director for staying in his own timeshare unit when traveling. This morning, I met with Minnesota Lottery Director Ed Van Petten, said Gov. Mark Dayton's chief of staff Jaime Tincher. During that meeting, Mr. Van Petten offered his resignation. I accepted his resignation. We will immediately begin a search for his replacement. Van Petten had been reimb
Dec 18, 2015, 6:02 pm - Todd - Lottery News