Lottery News for August, 2001

Friday, August 31, 2001

8:20 am – Don't forget to check back with us tonight at 11:00 PM Eastern Time for the live $115 million Big Game drawing results!

8:15 am – Brother, Sister Claim Winning Ticket. First-grade teacher Kathleen Kearney was so convinced that she had missed out on a share of the $298.4 million Powerball jackpot that she didn't even check her tickets for four days. More:

'I never win anything,' Powerball winner says - CNN
Final U.S. Powerball Lottery Winners Come Forward - Reuters
Sister, brother step forward to claim their share of Powerball jackpot - Nando Times

Thursday, August 30, 2001

7:10 pm – Macomb County, MI ranks at top among lottery winners. Forget Powerball. When it comes to lottery luck, Macomb County residents are Big Game players. In the seven-state Big Game lottery, Macombers have hogged the cash, winning far more than any other county in Michigan.

McDonald's Launches New Game Today. Only a week after its biggest giveaway game turned out to be a fraud, McDonald's is launching another game.

2:10 pm – Big Game heating up the fever for lottery. Days after at least four people won the third biggest United States lottery prize in history in the Powerball, lottery fever is heating up again with the Big Game lottery expected to reach $115 million by tomorrow's drawing.

Judge wont freeze Powerball money. A judge has rejected a bid to freeze some Powerball lottery winnings, saying she does not believe co-workers of a declared winner can produce enough evidence that the winning ticket was part of an office pool.

Wednesday, August 29, 2001

9:00 pm – Powerball Claim Challenged in Court. Here we go again: Four co-workers of one of the winners of the $294.8 million Powerball jackpot went to court Wednesday to demand a piece of the prize, contending the woman's winning ticket had been bought as part of an office pool. More:

Claim filed against Maine couple holding winning Powerball ticket - CNN
Couple's claim to Powerball jackpot is challenged - Sun-Sentinel News

Paperwork sets back start date for S.C. lottery. South Carolinians with an itch for a lottery won't be able to scratch until January.

Tennessee lottery debate to resurface in 2002. After almost 20 years of debate, the General Assembly this year finally approved a resolution that could lead to a lottery in Tennessee.

Big Game jackpot hits $115 million. It hasn't reached the level of the recent Powerball frenzy, but Big Game fever is heating up.

2:05 am – $115 Million! There was no jackpot winner in the Tuesday drawing, sending the jackpot to a level it hasn't attained in more than a year! In fact, the jackpot hasn't been this big since May 9, 2000, when it set the record for the largest jackpot in the United States.

Although there was no jackpot winner in the Tuesday drawing, 13 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $150,000 prize: 2 in New Jersey, 2 in Georgia, 4 in Illinois, and 5 in Michigan. For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

Congratulations to Divyesh Patel of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, who won $150.00 in the Tuesday Big Game drawing! The winner played The Big Game online at PlayBigGame.com and used their own numbers to match 4 of the first 5 numbers.

Also, congratulations to Richard Adams of Winnsboro, South Carolina, who won $100.00 in the Tuesday Big Game drawing! Mr. Adams played The Big Game online at PlayBigGame.com and used a Quick Pick to match 3 of the first 5 numbers plus the Big Money Ball.

Tuesday, August 28, 2001

8:25 am – Don't forget to check back with us tonight at 11:00 PM Eastern Time for the live $90 million Big Game drawing results! We're the only site on the Internet to bring you the results live as they're drawn.

Focus of fortune shifts to N.J.. Tonight's Big Game drawing for a $90 million jackpot is the result of consecutive rollovers of 15 prior twice-weekly drawings. It is the fifth largest Big Game jackpot since New Jersey joined six other Big Game states -- Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Virginia -- in 1999.

Winners cash in on Powerball. Three families choose lump sum; 4th winner remains anonymous.

Maine couple braces for life after Powerball. As far as Erwin Wales of Buxton, Maine, was concerned, Saturday's lottery winnings were pretty darned good before he went to bed: $20 in Maine scratch tickets, and another $5 on Megabucks.

Middletown mother lucky at lotto. Friday was Heather Jordan's lucky day as the mother of three from Middletown, Ohio won $50,000 as a contestant on the Ohio Lottery Commission's Cash Explosion Double Play game.

Unclaimed $150,000 Ticket Sold in Springfield, VA Set to Expire. Would you throw away $150,000? Someone is in danger of doing just that, and time is running out.

Monday, August 27, 2001

10:35 pm – Big Lottery Winners Come Forward. A Minnesota clerk who quit her job, a jobless Kentucky man whose unemployment benefits were running out and an elderly Maine couple each claimed a share of the third largest lottery prize in U.S. history, as the lucky ticket holders came forward on Monday.

10:10 am – Woman Throws Out Million Dollar Winning Number. As Americans across the country stood on long lines to buy Powerball lottery tickets, an Ohio person threw away a winning number that would have garnered a sure one million dollars.

Trump threatens to sue NY to stop Indian casinos. Outspoken casino mogul Donald Trump on Wednesday told radio station WROW he will consider suing New York State if it permits the Seneca Indians to build casinos in struggling upstate cities.

7:10 am – More on the Kentucky Powerball winner:

For $74M man, what a difference a day made - USA Today
Jobless divorcee claims US jackpot win - BBC

Andrew N.S. Glazer: Here's the way to pull out stops . How to gamble it up when you're really in the mood and can afford it.

Ky. Man Says He Has Winning Ticket. A divorced father who had just been laid off from his job says he is one of four winners of the $294.8 million Powerball jackpot.

Sunday, August 26, 2001

1:30 pm – The Big Game is now the largest jackpot in the United States. Now that the Powerball jackpot has been won, The Big Game's $90 million jackpot is now the largest in the United States -- more than double the next largest jackpot (California, $43 million).

Complete wrap-up of the Powerball winning tickets:

Four Winning Powerball Tickets Sold - AP
Four winning Powerball tickets - CNN
4 Winning Tickets in $295 Million Powerball Lottery - Reuters
Four winning Powerball tickets sold - MSNBC
Greenwich Reopens Gates, but Powerball Hordes Fail to Show - New York Times

8:45 am – Four Winning Powerball Tickets Sold. Four winning tickets were sold for the $295 million Powerball jackpot, lottery officials announced Sunday. Tickets matching all six numbers drawn in Saturday night's drawing were sold in New Hampshire, Delaware, Minnesota, and Kentucky.

Saturday, August 25, 2001

3:10 pm – Couple sought debt protection one day before lottery winnings. A Wichita couple who won $100,000 in Wednesday's Powerball lottery had filed for bankruptcy protection the day earlier.

Maine debates joining Powerball. Maine lawmakers are watching the Powerball mania that is gripping the nation and wondering if the state should try to get in on the action. This article provides some interesting insights into the politics behind the decision to join a multi-state game -- and the desire for exitsing members to keep neighboring states out of the action.

Big Game winner says instant riches can be tricky. Larry Ross, the $91 million lump sum Big Game lottery winner, has some advice for the next big lottery winner.

3:25 am – $90 Million! There was no jackpot winner in the Friday drawing, sending the jackpot to a level it hasn't attained since May 4, 2001! BigGameLottery.com readers may recall that was the drawing in which several taxi drivers from Georgia were involved in a dispute over who were members of the lottery pool that held the winning ticket. The "Taxi Tiff" escalated into the first-ever restraining order placed against the Georgia Lottery Corporation to prohibit the awarding of the $90 million jackpot. The jackpot was finally released on June 20, 2001 to be distributed among a group of 23 cab drivers who were determined to be a part of the winning lottery pool.

Although there was no jackpot winner in the Friday drawing, 7 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $150,000 prize: 1 in New Jersey, 2 in Georgia, 1 in Illinois, and 3 in Massachusetts. For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Rivers of Chesterfield, South Carolina, who won $100.00 in the Friday Big Game drawing! Ms. Rivers played The Big Game online at PlayBigGame.com and used numbers she selected herself to match 3 of the first 5 numbers plus the Big Money Ball.

Friday, August 24, 2001

12:35 pm – Conn. Town Suspends Powerball Sales. In the latest example of the Powerball craze, Greenwich officials got permission to suspend ticket sales Friday because they were overwhelmed by would-be millionaires from out of state.

Estimates peg next Powerball at $280M. The multistate Powerball jackpot will climb to an estimated $280 million for Saturday night's drawing, in what could be the third-largest lottery prize in U.S. history and the second-largest Powerball jackpot.

Big Game a Big Hit with $74 Million Jackpot. Jackpot fever is raging across the nation with The Big Game heating things up. The jackpot amount for tonight's drawing is an estimated $74 million to a single annuity winner.

Even Lottery Players in Hell Strike it Rich. One lucky Michigan Lottery player recently told Lottery officials he gets a lot of laughs when he tells people he lives in Hell, Michigan. Living in Hell just got a lot cooler for Kevin Nagle, thanks to the cold hard cash he recently won in The Big Game.

Windsor, Ontario Resident Wins $150,000 Big Game Prize. Lois Hamilton, of Windsor, Ontario is bringing $150,000 North of the border.

Chicago, Illinois Resident Shocked to Win $150,000 Big Game Prize. Stephanie Gigante, of Chicago, Illinois was shocked to learn she had matched the first five numbers in the August 14 Big Game drawing to win a $150,000 prize.

9:50 am – Don't forget to check back with us tonight at 11:00 PM Eastern Time for the live $74 million Big Game drawing results! We're the only site on the Internet to bring you the results live as they're drawn!

Thursday, August 23, 2001

7:25 am – Nobody Hits Powerball Jackpot. Nobody hit the $193.5 million Powerball jackpot on Wednesday, setting up a weekend drawing that could lead to a prize worth nearly $300 million. More:

No winner in Powerball - CNN
No winner in huge Powerball lottery - MSNBC
No Winner in Powerball Lottery - 11 Alive
Powerball Frenzy to Continue - Washington Post
Jackpot for Saturday's Powerball drawing is $280M - USA Today

New Games: Wanna play Pick 3 and Pick 4? Check out the latest at Play NJ Lottery.com.

Wednesday, August 22, 2001

10:05 am – Lottery officials say 1,100 stolen scratch-off tickets worthless. Lady Luck has turned her back on more than 1,100 scratch-off lottery tickets lifted from two stores in southern Palm Beach County.

Three Triples in One Week, For First Time in Virginia Lottery's History. Last week the Virginia Lottery's Pick 3 game hit triples three times in one week. That's never happened before in the 13-year history of the Virginia Lottery.

$200M Powerball Fever Spreads. Powerball players across the country snatched up tickets at a brisk pace as they tried to stake their claim to a lottery jackpot that has swelled to an estimated $200 million.

7:10 am – Although there was no jackpot winner in the Tuesday drawing, 8 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $150,000 prize: 2 in New Jersey, 1 in Illinois, 4 in Massachusetts, and 1 in Virginia. For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

2:40 am – $74 million! With no jackpot winner in the Tuesday drawing, the new Big Game jackpot for Friday is now $74 million!

Congratulations to Theodore Johnson of Port St. Lucie, Florida, who won $100.00 in the Tuesday Big Game drawing! Mr. Johnson played The Big Game online at PlayBigGame.com and used numbers he selected himself to match 3 of the first 5 numbers plus the Big Money Ball.

Also, congratulations to Ronald Dugan of Powder Springs, Georgia, who won $100.00 in the Tuesday Big Game drawing! Mr. Dugan played The Big Game online at PlayBigGame.com and used a Quick Pick to match 3 of the first 5 numbers plus the Big Money Ball.

Tuesday, August 21, 2001

7:35 am – Don't forget to check back with us tonight at 11:00 PM Eastern Time for the live $62 million Big Game drawing results! We're the only site on the Internet that brings you the results live as they're drawn.

Monday, August 20, 2001

10:15 am – $62 Million and Counting! The Big Game Jackpot Continues Its Climb Toward Tuesday Night's Drawing!. Did you know that winning the $62 million jackpot would give you $6,551 per day for 26 years? Read the linked article for this and other interesting facts.

Trump Casino Guests Bound, Robbed. Three men bound and robbed five people at gunpoint in a Trump Taj Mahal Casino hotel room after a dispute over money, police said.

$250,000 in Pick-4, Believe It or Not. On her way to a Food Service Exhibition in Atlantic City, Mary-Jo Burke-Bagley decided to have dinner in the Gateway Restaurant in Port Republic, Maryland. She also decided to place $50 on her father's favorite number, 9-4-2-5, for the next evening's Pick-4 Lottery drawing.

Detroit Resident Shocked By $150,000 Big Game Win. Andrew Kachonik of Detroit, Michigan couldn't believe his eyes when he looked at his Big Game ticket and discovered he had matched the first five numbers in the August 3, 2001 drawing to win a $150,000 prize.

$150,000 Big Game Prize for Michigan Resident. S.A. Tokie of Troy, Michigan is still in disbelief after matching the first five numbers in the July 31 Big Game drawing, winning a $150,000 prize.

New Jersey Couple Shares $30 Million Pick 6 Lotto Jackpot. A couple from Cedar Grove, Essex County, New Jersey came forward to claim the $30 million jackpot from the Pick 6 Lotto drawing held on July 26, 2001. Also: Pick 6 Lotto Jackpot Reaches $7.5 Million

Andrew N.S. Glazer: Father lost big by trusting teen. Read what happens when a father opens an Internet gambling account, leaves the password on the computer, and goes away for the weekend.

Saturday, August 18, 2001

2:35 am – There was no jackpot winner in the Friday drawing, but 2 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $150,000 prize: 1 in Massachusetts and 1 in Virginia. For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

With no big winner in the Friday drawing, the Tuesday jackpot is now an incredible $62 million!

Congratulations to Marcel St Pierre of Stoney Point, Ontario, Canada, who won $100.00 in the Friday Big Game drawing! Mr. St Pierre played The Big Game online at PlayBigGame.com and used a Quick Pick to match 3 of the first 5 numbers plus the Big Money Ball. Sharp-eyed BigGameLottery.com readers will recognize Mr. St Pierre's name, because just one week ago Marcel won $150 playing The Big Game at PlayBigGame.com!

Also, congratulations to Evelyn Gerken of Delhi, New York, who matched 4 of the first 5 numbers in the Friday Big Game drawing for a $150.00 prize! Ms. Gerken played The Big Game online at PlayBigGame.com and used a Quick Pick for the win.

Friday, August 17, 2001

5:30 pm – Lottery Post readers already know about our newest feature: the Big Game Quick Picks Generator. If you need some help picking Big Game numbers to play, try this new feature. It will generate up to 50 random tickets, sorted by Big Money number, and will check to make sure it doesn't generate duplicates. You can access the feature by clicking on "Quick Picks" on the left side of the BigGameLottery.com Home Page.

9:05 am – Don't forget to check back with us tonight at 11:00 PM Eastern Time for the live $54 million Big Game drawing results! We're the only site on the Internet that brings you the results live as they're drawn.

Thursday, August 16, 2001

10:40 am – State finds proof of lottery tickets. The case of the lost winning Massachusetts lottery tickets is solved: They weren't lost after all. [More]

6:40 am – Did you know that if you win the $54 million Big Game jackpot and choose the annuity payments, you'll receieve approximately $2,077,000 per year for 26 years (before taxes, of course)? To play online at PlayBigGame.com, your order must be placed before 2:00 PM Friday, August 17.

Panel names lottery manager . A look at Anthony Cooper, who is leaving his top job with the Washington, D.C., lottery for the No. 2 position in South Carolina.

Lottery Commission adds four to ranks. The fledgling South Carolina Lottery Commission continued filling out its ranks as board members approved four hires recommended by newly appointed Executive Director Ernie Passailaigue.

Woman charged with forging lotto ticket. A Pitman, New Jersey woman went from being a jackpot winner to a big loser yesterday when the New Jersey Lottery Commission in Lawrence Township discovered she forged a scratch-off ticket to win $20,000.

Wednesday, August 15, 2001

11:05 am – Governors Urge End to E-Tax Ban. This is an important issue all Internet users should be aware of! There are many state governments that want to impose a state tax on all of your Internet purchases. This is a bad idea! The freedom of the Internet is the main reason why it has thrived to this point, and any measure that begins to limit your freedoms on the Internet will surely be only the beginning. Urge your state representatives to keep the ban on Internet taxes!

8:15 am – Salaries set for key S.C. Lottery Commission employees. The S.C. Lottery Commission on Tuesday approved more than $600,000 in annual salaries for five key positions.

Australian lands 250 billion-to-1 lottery win. An Australian has beaten odds of 250 billion-to-1 to win his second lottery jackpot in just over a year.

2:05 am – With no jackpot winner last night, The Big Game jackpot has now increased to $54 million! Don't miss out on the opportunity to play: head over to PlayBigGame.com where it's fun and easy to play The Big Game online!

There was no jackpot winner in the Tuesday drawing, but 5 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $150,000 prize: 2 in New Jersey, 1 in Illinois, and 2 in Michigan. For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

Congratulations to Randall Coleman of Charlotte, North Carolina, who won $100 playing The Big Game online at PlayBigGame.com! The winner used a Quick Pick, and matched 3 of the first 5 numbers plus the Big Money Ball for the prize.

Tuesday, August 14, 2001

10:15 am – Last chance to play for $47 million. The deadline for playing The Big Game online at PlayBigGame.com for tonight's $47 million jackpot is 2:00 PM Eastern Time today.

Michigan Lottery Bureau gives ultimatum. Facing its second straight year of declining ticket sales, the Michigan state Lottery Bureau is telling those retailers not making their sales quotas that they may be subject to fines and/or discontinuation.

New Jersey Woman Shares $6.8 Million Jackpot. A woman from Pennsauken, New Jersey claim a $6.8 million jackpot from the Pick 6 Lotto drawing held on February 22, 2001, and opted to share half of the jackpot with her family.

Lotto leaders seek ad angle to sell games. Florida has its pink pelican. Georgia has its peach. And Virginia's Lady Luck tours the state with her wand. But what will be the image of South Carolina's lottery?

Director describes objectives. The newly hired director of South Carolina's lottery says, after 13 years as a state senator, he knows how to keep politics out of his job.

Don't forget to check back with us tonight at 11:00 PM Eastern Time for the live $47 million Big Game drawing results!

Monday, August 13, 2001

8:40 am – Utah couple returns winning lottery ticket to friend. An old friendship is paying-off big-time for a Utah trucker.

Sunday, August 12, 2001

1:35 pm – Big winner in S.C. lottery is firm that gets contract. The surest way to win big in the S.C. Lottery is not to buy a ticket. It's to land the game's $7.5 million advertising contract, the largest ever awarded by the state government.

Gaming board to investigate disputed $2.8 million jackpot. In her first bet of the day, a Sacramento woman slipped a $5 bill into a slot machine at the Eldorado Resort Casino early Wednesday morning, pressed the maximum bet button and won the $2.8 million jackpot - or so she thought.

Saturday, August 11, 2001

2:25 am – There was no jackpot winner in the Friday drawing, but 3 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $150,000 prize: 1 in Georgia, 1 in Illinois, and 1 in Virginia. For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

Place your order for the Tuesday drawing early! Tuesday's jackpot is a huge $47 million -- click over to PlayBigGame.com now to qualify.

Friday, August 10, 2001

11:20 pm – Congratulations to Jack Waters of San Francisco, California, who won two $100.00 Big Game prizes in tonight's drawing! Mr. Waters played The Big Game online at PlayBigGame.com and picked the winning numbers himself.

Also, congratulations to Marcel St Pierre of Stoney Point, Ontario, Canada, who matched 4 of the first 5 numbers in tonight's Big Game drawing for a $150.00 prize! Mr. St Pierre played The Big Game online at PlayBigGame.com and used a Quick Pick for the win.

9:25 pm – Don't forget to check back with us tonight at 11:00 PM Eastern Time for the live $43 million Big Game drawing results!

9:20 pm – Poor choice for lottery's No. 1 job. According the the linked editorial, not everyone is happy about the choice for South Carolina's Lottery Director.

Lottery vendor pays $4.5 million fine over blown contract. The Florida Lottery has levied a $4.5 million fine against Automated Wagering International, the company that installed its computers and ticket terminals, because work wasn't completed by the contract deadline.

9:05 am – Last chance to play for the huge $43 million Big Game jackpot! Click over to PlayBigGame.com and place your order before 2:00 PM ET today to qualify.

Andrew N.S. Glazer: If it's guaranteed, you should pass. The top 10 reasons you should not purchase any sort of "guaranteed winning systems" by mail or e-mail.

Lottery winner blows £3m prize. John Roberts is said to be penniless after spending his winnings on cars, houses, holidays, and unsuccessful investments. [More]

Thursday, August 9, 2001

9:55 pm – Lottery may start in January. Don't count on finding South Carolina lottery tickets in your Christmas stocking this year.

Couple have no big plans for lottery jackpot. Steve and Margaret Zelisko stopped by the 7-Eleven in Romeoville, Illinois Wednesday afternoon to pick up a commemorative check for $19 million.

1:20 pm – Deloitte & Touche Studies Southeastern Massachusetts Gaming. Deloitte & Touche today released a new study that reveals the potential economic benefits of a single, Native American entertainment and gaming facility in Southeastern Massachusetts, as proposed by the Wampanoag Native American Indian Tribe of Gay Head.

A Lucky Combo: Lotto with Lunch. The next time your office orders lunch from a nearby deli, you might want to ask for a side order of lottery tickets.

Wednesday, August 8, 2001

9:40 am – Don't forget to get your order in early at PlayBigGame.com for Friday's big $43 million drawing!

7:55 am – S.C. lottery leaders get neighborly advice. Just 2 1/2 months before state law says tickets should go on sale, South Carolina's nine lottery commissioners, their consultant and their new director, former Sen. Ernie Passailaigue of Charleston, flew to Atlanta for a crash course in setting up the lottery.

1:55 am – There was no jackpot winner in the Tuesday drawing, but 2 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $150,000 prize: 1 in Massachusetts and 1 in Virginia. For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

Tuesday, August 7, 2001

8:00 am – Passailaigue hits the jackpot with lottery leader job. After more than two hours of deliberations and a 9-0 vote, the S.C. Lottery Commission hired Passailaigue over Anthony Cooper, the director of the Washington, D.C., lottery.

Don't forget to check back with us tonight at 11:00 PM Eastern Time for the live $37 million Big Game drawing results!

Monday, August 6, 2001

9:05 am – New Items Available in Big Game Gift Shop. Check out the new items for sale in our gift shop, including hats, a tote bag, and -- that's right -- boxer shorts.

8:20 am – Spend the money wisely, lottery winners say. Interesting story with advice from past lottery winners on how to manage your new windfall.

Panel to quiz lottery finalists. South Carolina lottery commissioners face a classic choice between the outsider with a good resume and the politically connected local when they select the state's first lottery director.

Colorado Powerball ticket sales: When ticket sales automatically closed at 7:30 PM on Saturday, a total of 1,629,673 Powerball tickets (including advance play) had been sold by the Colorado Lottery.

Sunday, August 5, 2001

1:15 pm – Lottery win saves man's eyesight. Winning the lottery has stopped a New Zealand man going blind.

Lotto Plans To Double 'Six' Appeal. Lottery lovers in New York will soon get twice as many dreams for their dollars - the state is rolling back the price of Pick Six Lotto to two plays for a buck.

Jim Kipp Named Acting Michigan Lottery Commissioner. On Thursday, August 2, 2001, Governor John Engler appointed Jim Kipp as the Bureau's Acting Commissioner. Kipp replaces Don Gilmer, who was recently appointed State Budget Director.

Andrew N.S. Glazer: Amateurs prove poker prowess. Although Detroit casinos don't offer poker, many Michigan residents enjoy a friendly game at home, many more visit the fine poker room at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant and some play poker on the Internet.

Saturday, August 4, 2001

8:20 pm – Legal chains cut from Powerball. A district judge refused Friday to pull the plug on Powerball in Colorado. As of late Friday, more than one million tickets had been sold, lottery officials said.

Possible delay worries retailers. The South Carolina Lottery looked to be the light at the end of a dark tunnel for businesses crippled by last year's state ban on video gambling machines. But a proposal by the S.C. Lottery Commission may stretch the wait into next year.

9:50 am – Did you know that if you win the $37 million Big Game jackpot and choose the annuity option, you will receive about $1,425,000 per year for 26 years? Think about it: you could buy a new house, a new car, some nice jewelry, and still have enough left over to pay all four years of your kid's tuition -- all in the first year! Don't miss out: head over to PlayBigGame.com and place your order today!

2:10 am – There was no jackpot winner in the Friday drawing, but 3 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $150,000 prize: 1 in Massachusetts and 2 in Michigan. For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

Friday, August 3, 2001

11:40 pm – $27.3 million Virginia lottery ticket sold at Hampton 7-Eleven. An estimated $27.3 million jackpot, the largest jackpot ever paid to a single winner in Virginia, was sold on Wednesday at 3:10 p.m. at the Hampton, Virginia 7-Eleven.

Powerball off to slow start around city. Powerball isn't necessarily a big hit everywhere in Colorado.

2:05 pm – Don't forget to check back with us tonight at 11:00 PM Eastern Time for the live $32 million Big Game drawing results!

Thursday, August 2, 2001

7:25 pm – Texas lottery tax will drop by a half point. The Texas Lottery Commission announced Wednesday the amount of taxes withheld from $5,000 or more in winnings will decrease from 28 percent to 27.5 percent.

Georgia Lottery joining Lotto South game. Georgia Lottery officials voted Wednesday to eliminate Lotto Georgia to become part of a tri-state game with Virginia and Kentucky, a move they hope will result in larger jackpots and more revenue.

Newest Lotto millionaire from San Diego. A San Diego man has claimed ownership to today's sole winning California Lottery ticket, worth $57 million before taxes.

4:35 pm – State joins Powerball frenzy today. Coloradans bought 90,000 Powerball tickets in the first five hours they were on sale in the state today, even though a judge could block state participation in the game Friday.

4:25 pm – It's Official: Georgia Joins Lotto South. The new game, which will be a tri-state game together with Kentucky and Virginia, will replace Lotto Georgia. Lotto South is being readied to debut on September 12.

9:45 am – Only one day left to play for the $32 million Big Game jackpot! Orders must be received at PlayBigGame.com by Friday, August 3, 2:00 PM Eastern Time.

Multistate Powerball lottery starts rolling today for Coloradans. Coloradans will join residents of 21 other states today in playing Powerball, a multistate lottery with jackpots capable of reaching hundreds of millions of dollars.

South Beaver woman wins $20 million Lottery jackpot. A South Beaver Township woman is the latest big jackpot winner of the Pennsylvania Lottery.

Instant millionaires keeping a tight fist on their winnings. Irish millionaires are a conservative bunch or at least those are who come by their money through the National Lottery. Instead of splashing their winnings on the outward trappings of wealth, they prefer to invest in property and long-term share portfolios.

China to Issue More Sports Lottery to Aid 2008 Olympics. According to Beijing Morning Post, China begins to issue Olympics lottery tickets today for Beijing's host of the Olympic Games, but the lottery tickets do not have much difference with the other sports lotteries in appearance.

Wednesday, August 1, 2001

10:35 am – Lots of lottery news today, so let's get started...

Tribe makes new push for Mass. casino. The Wampanoag Indians, bankrolled by a Louisiana tribe, have quietly launched their most ambitious and elaborate campaign to build the state's first casino, what they envision as a sprawling, Foxwoods-style hotel and gaming operation in Southeastern Massachusetts.

Pennsylvania man to receive check for his third Lottery jackpot win. 67-year-old Joseph H. Hornick Sr. of Beaver Meadows, Carbon County, has won a third Pennsylvania Lottery jackpot prize in 12 years.

Georgia Lottery Players Win Big. A few of the many recent Georgia Lottery winners, including a $150,000 Big Game winner who said his first purchase will be a larger bed. "I have a children's bed where my feet stick off the end," he laughed. "I'm going to buy a bed that fits."

Lucky Lady Claims $28 Million Big Game Jackpot. Lottery officials solved the mystery of the $28 million winner from the June 19, 2001 Big Game drawing when they introduced Chicago South Sider Sherri Williams during a press conference in the Illinois Lottery's Chicago office.

Michigan Resident Collects $150,000 Prize from July 17 Big Game Drawing. Nancy Kubinski of Berkley, Michigan had her dreams become a reality when she discovered she had matched the first five numbers in the July 17 Big Game drawing to win a $150,000 prize.

$150,000 Big Game Winner is Shocked. Bill Reichart of Plymouth, Michigan couldn't believe his eyes when he looked at his Big Game ticket and discovered he had matched the first five numbers in the July 10, 2001 drawing to win a $150,000 prize.

Partnership in Ocean County, New Jersey Claims $12 Million Big Game Jackpot. The members of a partnership from Ship Bottom, Ocean County came forward to claim a $12 million jackpot from the Big Game drawing held on May 18, 2001.

O'Brien and Galvin spar on lottery. It started as a mystery over three huge unclaimed prizes, a total of $6 million in lottery jackpots still unawarded with just a few hundred tickets still for sale. But it turned into an early skirmish in next year's Massachusetts gubernatorial race yesterday, as Treasurer Shannon P. O'Brien swung back at Secretary of State William F. Galvin, saying that his "uninformed and baseless comments" on the "$400 Million Spectacular" are jeopardizing lottery revenues that cities and towns depend on.

3:05 am – There was no jackpot winner in the Tuesday drawing, but 8 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $150,000 prize: 4 in New Jersey, 1 in Illinois, 1 in Massachusetts, 1 in Maryland, and 1 in Michigan. For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

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