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Alabama residents cross state lines in droves to play lottery as jackpots soarNews Story
Possibility of state lottery remains in limbo as residents pressure lawmakers By Kate Northrop The jackpots for multi-state games Mega Millions and Powerball are at record highs this week, and Alabama residents are doing all they can to join in on the fun while they wait endlessly for an approval of a state-run lottery of their own. Alabama is one of five U.S. states that does not yet have its own state lottery. Locals are flustered with the hassle of having to drive to one of four bord
Jan 18, 2021, 5:07 pm - Lottery News

U.S. gaming industry hanging hopes on stimulus packageNews Story
Hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, the American gaming industry, including the expanding legal sports betting market, is optimistic the federal relief bill signed into law Friday by President Donald Trump will help its recovery. The $2 trillion CARES Act provides emergency liquidity, tax relief and additional support for small businesses, among other measures that could benefit the gaming industry. The funds will be allocated to states then apportioned to individual industries based on eco
Mar 31, 2020, 8:47 am - Lottery News

Lottery bill is likely dead in Alabama legislatureNews Story
It appears the latest attempt to create an Alabama state lottery will die, killed this time not by special interests but, instead, coronavirus. The Alabama legislature still has about half of its 30 allotment of meeting days remaining, but also faces a mid-May deadline to end the session that began in early February. All meeting days must take place within a 105 day span. COVID-19, and the restrictions it has caused, will probably kill most most of them. It's not only Representative Ste
Mar 25, 2020, 8:10 am - Lottery News

Alabama lottery bill filed in House with 70 co-sponsorsNews Story
Alabama Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, filed an education lottery bill Tuesday with 70 co-sponsors that if passed would go to the ballot as a constitutional amendment for people to vote on. It would approve a paper-based lottery generating about $167 million each year according to Clouse. 50 percent of the proceeds would go toward the First Class Pre-K program and the other half for scholarships. Video lottery terminals would not be allowed. It's just time that we put this on the ballot agai
Mar 12, 2020, 10:48 am - Lottery News

Michigan Lottery has few options to stop players who spend millionsNews Story
In June 2017, Viktor Gjonaj walked into a sleepy retail strip on Dequindre Road in Sterling Heights. He wasn't heading for the massage parlor, or the small Indian and Pakistani grocery store or restaurant or the hair salon. Instead, he went into the Michigan Lottery claim center at the northern edge of Sherwood Plaza. There, he showed his driver's license and Social Security card, completed a claim form, and left $2.5 million richer with a check cut to him as the prize for the 500 winning
Mar 9, 2020, 9:23 am - Lottery News

New law allows online sale of Virginia lottery ticketsNews Story
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has signed a bill into law that permits the online sale of state lottery tickets, which the fiscal estimate suggests could generate $12 million in annual state revenue. A person will be permitted to purchase the tickets through a computer, a smartphone or other electronic devices when the Virginia Lottery gets the new method of sales up and running. The $12 million estimate, however, assumes the new sales will not affect sales in traditional lottery locations. T
Mar 6, 2020, 2:21 pm - Lottery News

Missouri House considers legislation to protect the identity of lottery winnersNews Story
A bill to protect the identity of Missouri lottery winners is making its way through the legislative process. Rep. Jay Mosley (R-Florissant) sponsored the bill to provide an added level of safety for individuals who win lottery prizes in the state. The current practice is for prize winners to have their names posted to the lottery website to announce their winnings. Mosley said the change is needed to give winners the option to stay anonymous. This is a safety issue and a way to giv
Mar 4, 2020, 8:39 am - Lottery News

Two Alaska state lottery plans are about to be debated; here's how they'd workNews Story
Alaska is one of five U.S. states without a lottery. This year, Gov. Mike Dunleavy and House Majority Leader Steve Thompson, a Republican from Fairbanks, have each offered plans to change that. With Alaska state government projecting a $1.5 billion budget deficit, both men have said a lottery could be one step toward a broader fix. But both have proposed very different approaches. Thompson is suggesting a draw-style lottery that would raise between $8 million and $10 million a year for the
Feb 17, 2020, 8:50 am - Lottery News

Alaska governor proposes lottery amid budget woesNews Story
Alaska, long-reliant on oil and in search of options amid a persistent budget deficit, may turn to the lottery for help. Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy introduced legislation Wednesday proposing a lottery. His administration said it could serve as part of his goal of providing greater fiscal stability. It comes on the heels of deep budget cuts Dunleavy proposed last year that were met with public outcry. That anger helped fuel a recall effort against him now tied up in the courts. His budge
Feb 14, 2020, 12:34 pm - Lottery News

Nebraska weighing anonymity for lottery winnersNews Story
Winners of the Nebraska Lottery both big and small must step into the limelight to accept their prize under state law, a public reveal that can turn a stroke of luck into a potential curse. Notice of a winner can bring family, friends and newfound fourth cousins out of the woodwork to ask for a slice of the prize money, said Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth. Often, the publicity and unwanted fame can become too much for the jackpot winners, Brandt said, no matter how much money comes into their
Jan 28, 2020, 8:57 am - Lottery News