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Lottery News for October, 2003

Friday, October 31, 2003

 – Happy Halloween from BigGameLottery.com!
Researchers: Most lottery winners stay on the job.  It's common for lottery winners to continue working, according to a soon-to-be published study by a University of Minnesota organizational psychologist, and colleagues at Rutgers University and the University of Haifa in Israel.

Thursday, October 30, 2003

Sydney man arrested over Nigerian scam.  Police in Sydney said Thursday they arrested an Australian man suspected of being part of a global, multimillion-dollar scam that dupes victims into believing they can claim some of the foreign assets of the Nigerian president.
 – Lost and found? $1.4M lottery ticket winds up in court.  On Sept. 16, 2002, a New Jersey Pick 6 lottery ticket was sold from the Sunshine Grocery store in Hoboken.  The numbers, randomly generated as a "quick pick," proved to be the very lucky indeed.  But a court will have to decide for whom.

Wednesday, October 29, 2003

Governor softens stand on Paul.  Gov. Phil Bredesen, after criticizing hiring practices by the head of the Tennessee lottery last week, said yesterday that Rebecca Paul has his "unqualified support."
 – There was no jackpot winner in the Tuesday Mega Millions drawing, but 3 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $175,000 prize: 1 in Georgia, 1 in Illinois, and 1 in Washington.  For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

Tuesday, October 28, 2003

 – Missouri Lottery Unveils "Big Sleigh Giveaway".  Missouria Lottery players can start celebrating the holidays early with the "Big Sleigh Giveaway" promotion, which will include prizes such as a 2004 Lincoln Aviator, cash, gift certificates, and TVs.
Women's big Powerball win thrusts spotlight on small town.  Until Monday, Holdingford, Minnesota probably was best known as a neighbor to Keillor's fictional Lake Wobegon or as the Moonshine Capital of the Nation because a golden brew named Minnesota 13 was created there.  But now, it'll be known as home to the luckiest lunch ladies.
 – Valley lottery winners plan to donate part of winning to charity.  Narinder Badwal and his wife Lilla Singh still can't believe their luck.  Standing in front of television cameras and microphones during a press conference in Milpitas today helped them realize that they will split a $99 million Superlotto jackpot.
Lunch Ladies Share $95 Million Powerball Prize.  They waited until the students got their lunch, then 15 school cooks and one janitor who each put a quarter into a lottery pool came forward Monday as the holders of a Powerball ticket worth more than $95 million.
Lottery chief defends high salaries of executives.  Tennessee Lottery CEO Rebecca Paul on Monday defended the high salaries going to lottery executives and predicted complaints, such as those voiced by a group of Republican legislators, will end when the lottery is up and running.

Monday, October 27, 2003

 – Virginia seen as big winner in lottery.  The Virginia lottery has defied the odds by continuing to thrive despite economic downturns, advertising restrictions and the "jackpot fatigue" that sets in when players lose interest in million-dollar prizes.

Sunday, October 26, 2003

Saturday, October 25, 2003

 – There was no jackpot winner in the Friday Mega Millions drawing, but 4 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $175,000 prize: 1 in New Jersey, 1 in Michigan, 1 in New York, and 1 in Ohio.  For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

Friday, October 24, 2003

 – Home-schooling advocates debate legality of lottery.  State Attorney General Paul Summers has been asked to rule if Tennessee's lottery-funded scholarship program is unconstitutional for making home-schooled students meet higher standards to receive a scholarship than formally educated students.

Thursday, October 23, 2003

 – Powerball Jackpot Soars to $190 Million.  Because no one correctly matched all six numbers in Wednesday's drawing the jackpot grew to an estimated $190 million, with a cash option of $99 million.  That ranks as the 6th largest Powerball jackpot ever.
 – Lotto Wife: He Left Me.  The Melville, New York woman who hit a $25 million New York Lotto jackpot in February has spoken publicly for the first time and said that contrary to her estranged husband's claims, she didn't run out on him and it was he who left her.
Texas to start Mega Millions in time for holidays.  Lottery officials are hoping to jingle all the way to the bank this holiday season, as Texans for the first time will be able to buy tickets in their state for the Mega Millions multi-state lottery drawing.
 – $190 MILLION: SATURDAY POWERBALL JACKPOT.  There were no tickets sold matching all six numbers in the Wednesday Powerball drawing, sending the Saturday jackpot to $190 million!  Important: Due to the HUGE demand for tickets when the jackpot reaches this level, players are strongly advised to purchase tickets early.

Wednesday, October 22, 2003

 – GOP chief criticizes lottery pay.  The chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party Tuesday criticized "excessive salaries" paid by the Tennessee Lottery Corp., money she said should go to education when the lottery starts next year.
Tenn. Lottery coming to offbeat places.  Tennesseans eating out, getting a haircut or maybe even buying Broadway tickets at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center will be able to pick up lottery tickets, too.
Whole Lotto trouble.  With today's California SuperLotto Plus lottery jackpot at $96 million, sellers hope problem-plagued new machines keep working.
 – There was no jackpot winner in the Tuesday Mega Millions drawing, but 3 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $175,000 prize: 1 in Georgia, 1 in Massachusetts, and 1 in Virginia.  For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

Tuesday, October 21, 2003

Monday, October 20, 2003

 – Paul’s lottery past: rocky beginnings, happier endings.  Rebecca Paul's admirers outnumber her critics by a long shot in Georgia's capital city.  But the critics were hot when Paul was starting the state's lottery in 1993.  Ten years later, Tennessee has hired her to do the same thing for up to $752,500 a year.
 – Big lottery vendor dogged by controversy.  Scandal and suspicion have marked GTECH's 22 years in the lottery business.  But so has spectacular success.  The company, which is expected to bid on the Tennessee lottery's online games contract, helps run lotteries in 26 states and 42 other countries.
Is Rebecca Paul as good as they say?.  When state lottery commissioners hired Rebecca Paul as the nation's highest-paid lottery director, they justified their decision by saying she was "the best," the "gold standard."  State Sen. Steve Cohen dubbed her "the Michael Jordan" of her field.  But a Tennessean review has found that many of the claims surrounding her are overstated.
 – Powerball Jackpot Reaches $162 Million.  Because no one correctly matched all six numbers in Saturday's Powerball drawing the jackpot grew to an estimated $162 million, with a cash option of $84.2 million.  That ranks as the 6th largest Powerball jackpot ever.
Mega Millions Jackpot Grows to $22 Million.  No tickets matched all six numbers in the Friday Mega Millions drawing, so the jackpot grows to an estimated $22 million for the Tuesday, October 21, 2003 drawing.
 – Will Alabama get gambling?.  Alabama remains the lone holdout in the South for state-regulated gambling, although the state does have Indian casinos and wagering at dog tracks.
Russia's First Lottery Bill Moves to Senate.  The State Duma on Friday passed in the third reading a bill on lotteries that will be Russia's first attempt at federally regulating the industry if approved by the Federation Council and signed by the president.
 – Accomplishments of Ex-Lottery Director Questioned.  Rebecca Paul was hired to start Tennessee's lottery and is paid more than her peers because of her success running Georgia's games, but some of Paul's accomplishments during her time in Georgia are overstated, according to a review by The Tennessean newspaper.

Sunday, October 19, 2003

 – $162 MILLION: WEDNESDAY POWERBALL JACKPOT.  There were no tickets sold matching all six numbers in the Saturday Powerball drawing, sending the Wednesday jackpot to $162 million!  Important: Due to the huge demand for tickets when the jackpot reaches this level, players are strongly advised to purchase tickets early.

Saturday, October 18, 2003

'Enough,' Bredesen warns lottery chief.  Gov. Phil Bredesen says he wants Tennessee lottery chief Rebecca Paul to stop stacking her staff with former employees from the Georgia lottery and paying out top-dollar salaries.
Tenn. lottery chief keeping mum about several key questions.  Tennessee lottery CEO Rebecca Paul is keeping quiet on several significant lottery issues, including why she wants to contract with a single vendor for lottery goods and supplies instead of splitting up the business among several vendors.
There was no jackpot winner in the Friday Mega Millions drawing, but 2 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $175,000 prize: 1 in Maryland and 1 in Ohio.  For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

Friday, October 17, 2003

 – Sparks fly at N.C. lottery forum.  Tempers flared in a debate over just how much money North Carolina is losing to border states like South Carolina, which has a lottery.
Blind Lottery Vendor Losing Braille Machine.  A legally blind man who has been selling lottery tickets since the California Lottery began says he's being left behind because the state is upgrading its lottery machines.
S.D. Lottery investigating system failure.  The South Dakota Lottery has asked a private company to explain why connections to the central lotto computer system failed, leaving many retailers unable to sell lotto tickets for nearly 2 1/2 hours last Saturday night.
Treasurer takes top post with Tenn. lottery.  Tennessee State Treasurer Steve Adams, who has held the post since 1987, is resigning Oct. 24 to become chief administrative officer of the Tennessee Lottery, with a pay raise of at least $50,000, the lottery announced Thursday.

Thursday, October 16, 2003

 – Powerball Jackpot Jumps to $140 Million.  Because no one correctly matched all six numbers in Wednesday's drawing the jackpot grew to an estimated $140 million, with a cash option of $74.1 million.  That ranks as the 8th largest Powerball jackpot ever.
 – Texas may move to join Mega Millions today.  The Texas Lottery Commission could formalize its decision to enter the multi-state lottery game Mega Millions today, a move expected to bring more than $50 million a year to state coffers.
High Court OKs Lottery Worker's Prosecution.  Massachusetts' high court cleared the way Tuesday for the prosecution of a septuagenarian former Lottery worker accused of stealing money and lottery tickets from the agency.
 – $28M Calif. Lotto Ticket Still Unclaimed.  Someone out there could be a millionaire tonight and not even know it.  A huge California lottery jackpot has gone unclaimed for more than a month now.
Lottery scammer jailed.  The "bagman" in an Edmonton bogus lottery scam that bilked $368,000 from vulnerable U.S. seniors was handed a 26-month prison term yesterday.
N.J. Lottery ticket worth $6.1M.  According to a statement released by New Jersey Lottery, the owner of a Pick 6 ticket sold in Vineland won the contest's top prize in Monday's drawing, but has yet to come forward to claim the prize.
 – $140 MILLION: SATURDAY POWERBALL JACKPOT.  There were no tickets sold matching all six numbers in the Wednesday Powerball drawing, sending the Saturday jackpot to $140 million!  Important: To ensure entry, players are advised to purchase tickets early.

Wednesday, October 15, 2003

 – $117 Million Powerball Drawing Tonight.  All eyes will be on Powerball tonight at 11:00 PM Eastern Time, when the winning numbers are drawn for the $117 million Powerball jackpot.
 – Mega Millions jackpot increases to $16 million.  None of the tickets sold for Tuesday's $12 million Mega Millions drawing matched all five lotto numbers and the Mega Ball, increasing the Friday jackpot to $16 million.
 – Spain Breaks Up Sweepstakes Fraud Ring.  Madrid police broke up a fraud ring that cheated hundreds of Americans and Canadians out of $35 million through scams such as a lottery simulating a Spanish Christmas sweepstakes, officials said Tuesday.
Store's trash proves to be lotto treasure.  The manager of a Hackensack, New Jersey video store thought he had found a modern-day pot of gold this week when hundreds of unused, scratch-off instant Lottery tickets were discovered in the store basement.
 – Paul shields panel picking lottery bid.  The names of some top lottery officials who will pick the winner of Tennessee's multimillion-dollar lottery contract will remain secret until Oct. 27 to protect them from outside influence, Tennessee lottery CEO Rebecca Paul said yesterday.
 – There was no jackpot winner in the Tuesday Mega Millions drawing, but 1 lucky player from New York matched the first 5 numbers for a $175,000 prize.  For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

Tuesday, October 14, 2003

Florida Man Claims $3 Million Lotto Prize.  Philip C. Dalton, 61, of North Port, Florida, claimed his winnings Monday afternoon from the only winning ticket in Saturday night's Florida Lotto.  He had purchased the ticket at the North Port Winn-Dixie, 14483 Tamiami Trail.

Monday, October 13, 2003

 – $117 Million Powerball Jackpot.  Because no one correctly matched all six numbers in Saturday's Powerball drawing the jackpot grew to an estimated $117 million, with a cash option of $62 million.  That's currently the largest lottery jackpot in the world.
Lottery losers sue for change.  The Kentucky Lottery Corp. has been hit with another lawsuit challenging its Extra Cash game and its advertising.
Judge raps FTC over lottery ticket case.  An Ontario judge has sharply criticized the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for the way it has handled a case against a Canadian businessman who is alleged to have fraudulently sold thousands of lottery tickets across the border.

Saturday, October 11, 2003

 – $102 Million Powerball Drawing Tonight.  No one matched all six numbers Wednesday — a jackpot of $88 million — and so the pot swelled to $102 million for tonight's drawing.  This jackpot run started with the drawing on Sept. 3; there have been 11 draws without a jackpot winner.  Drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday.
 – There was no jackpot winner in the Friday Mega Millions drawing, but 2 lucky players from Ohio matched the first 5 numbers for a $175,000 prize.  For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

Friday, October 10, 2003

 – Record Kentucky lottery sales.  The Kentucky Lottery has never been bigger... or more profitable.  But competition on the horizon could halt the growth of the 14-year-old venture.

Thursday, October 9, 2003

 – Powerball Jackpot Reaches $102 Million.  Powerball is on the rise and once again the jackpot has crossed over into the $100 million range.  There were no jackpot winners Wednesday but 517,732 players across the nation won a total of more than $6.3 million in prizes in America's Game.
Laval Resident Claims Loto-Québec's Largest Jackpot Ever.  The sole winner of the $25,418,690 jackpot in the October 3rd Super 7 draw, Québec's newest multimillionaire, Mr. Robert Fournier, has also earned the enviable distinction of being the province's largest lottery winner ever.

Wednesday, October 8, 2003

 – Jackpot Winner!  There was one $12 million jackpot winner from New Jersey in the Tuesday Mega Millions drawing.  More details to follow after the winner comes forward to claim their prize.
Also, 5 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $175,000 prize: 1 in Georgia, 3 in New York, and 1 in Virginia.  For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.
One winner in Mega Millions.  One ticket sold in New Jersey won Tuesday's multi-state Mega Millions lottery jackpot worth $12 million, lottery officials said.
Neighbor states may lose lottery windfall.  A solitary billboard between Nashville and the Kentucky state line tells the story of what surrounding states have to lose — or possibly gain — when Tennessee begins its own lottery next year.
 – LA Lottery Will Honor Misprinted Game Tickets.  Tickets for three Louisiana lottery games - Pick 3, Pick 4 and Cash Quest - that were purchased Tuesday between 1:35 p.m. and 2:11 p.m. for Tuesday night's drawing were inadvertently generated for Wednesday's drawing.

Tuesday, October 7, 2003

Calif. SuperLOTTO Plus Ticket-Printing Problem.  Due to a computer error, the California Super LOTTO Plus draw dates printed on tickets issued Sunday morning, October 5, 2003, incorrectly show the draw date for Saturday, October 11, 2003.  The affected tickets are actually valid for the Wednesday's October 8, 2003 Super LOTTO Plus draw.
Auburndale Man Buys $14 Million Florida Lotto Jackpot Ticket.  An Auburndale (Polk Co.) man's trip to North Florida truly paid off this weekend.  While visiting relatives west of Chipley (Washington Co.), he bought the winning Florida Lotto ticket for the Oct. 4 drawing.  On his way back home to Auburndale Monday, he collected his estimated $14 million jackpot prize.
 – Lottery work moving ahead of schedule.  The chief executive officer of the Tennessee lottery said yesterday that she is expecting upward of 20,000 applications for the lottery's approximately 300 jobs.
Lynchburg couple ’in a daze’ at lottery win.  James Featherston, 69, and his wife, Martha, both of Lynchburg, Virginia, won the $17.6 million Lotto South drawing held Sept. 17.  They and their son, James Jr., were at Hotel Roanoke on Monday afternoon for a check presentation ceremony led by Virginia Lottery Executive Director Penelope Kyle.

Monday, October 6, 2003

Del. Lottery shuts sales at two sites.  The Delaware Lottery Office has removed machines from two stores because of undisclosed debts, including a Bear newsstand that long has been one of the state's top ticket sellers, the state lottery director said Thursday.
 – Man Sues Kentucky Lottery for $10 Million.  Ronald B. Hub said he believed the lottery wasn't playing by its own rules and he wants it punished to the tune of $10 million in a lawsuit he filed.
300 years of winners, losers in state's lottery-history exhibit.  A small exhibit called "History of Lotteries and the Lottery System in Rhode Island" lays out the details of Rhode Island's on-again-off-again relationship with lotteries over the past 300 years.  The exhibit is on display weekdays through the end of October in the secretary of state's archives division on Westminster Street.

Sunday, October 5, 2003

 – $88 Million Powerball Jackpot.  The excitement is growing, the fun is growing, and most importantly, the jackpot is growing in one of America's biggest lottery games.  There were no Powerball jackpot winners Saturday but 457,515 players across the nation won a total of more than $3.8 million in prizes in America's Game.

Saturday, October 4, 2003

 – There was no jackpot winner in the Friday Mega Millions drawing, but 1 lucky player from Illinois matched the first 5 numbers for a $175,000 prize.  For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

Friday, October 3, 2003

 – Don't forget to check back with us tonight at 11:00 PM Eastern Time for the live $10 million Big Game Mega Millions drawing results!
Lottery winner cool, but plans heat up.  Staff Sgt. Stephen Tirrell Moore, on a 30-day leave from his duties in South Korea, publicly announced his Mega Millions lottery windfall Thursday at the restaurant in the small South Georgia town before a small group of family and friends.

Thursday, October 2, 2003

Powerball Soars to $79 Million.  There were no Powerball jackpot winners Wednesday but 394,341 players across the nation won a total of more than $2.8 million in prizes in America's Game.  The Saturday Powerball jackpot is now $79 million, with a cash option of $42.3 million.
Free lotto ticket promotion taken lightly.  Some in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Lincoln communities are concerned that a lotto promotion at a UNL restaurant sent the wrong message to students about gambling.
$10M jackpot winner's luck runs out.  A multimillion-dollar lottery jackpot winner had a reversal of fortune yesterday when he was sent to jail for his part in a high-speed police chase.

Wednesday, October 1, 2003

Florida couple wins big.  Rory Morris and Gabriella Smarandache's lives changed with a simple scratch of the penny Thursday.
 – Lottery fantasy comes true.  Like many people, La Pheris F. Powers of Springfield, Massachusetts had fantasized about what he would do if he won the lottery.  Now that he has, his nine grandchildren and niece don't have to worry about paying for college.
Fox dismisses any impropriety in work for GTECH.  The Rhode Island House majority leader acknowledges his role as a lawyer in GTECH's sales pitch to the Providence City Council, but he says he had no business ties to the lottery giant when the legislature voted for the package that kept the company in Rhode Island.
State will drop Plus, revert to old Lotto.  The Washington Lottery Commission is reverting to the old Lotto game after Saturday night's drawing for Lotto Plus.  The odds of winning the Lotto jackpot will be 1 in 7 million instead of the 1 in 11 million odds for Lotto Plus.
 – Jackpot Winner!  There was one $150 million jackpot winner from Georgia in the Tuesday Mega Millions drawing.  More details to follow after the winner comes forward to claim their prize.
Also, 9 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $175,000 prize: 3 in New Jersey, 2 in Illinois, 1 in Michigan, 2 in New York, and 1 in Virginia.  For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

◄ November, 2003 September, 2003 ►

Marketplace

Mega Millions
Friday Jackpot
$368 Million
Powerball
Saturday Jackpot
$212 Million
SuperEnalotto
Thursday Jackpot
$202 Million
Euro Millions
Friday Jackpot
$184.9 Million
EuroJackpot
Friday Jackpot
$31.4 Million
TX Lotto Texas
Saturday Jackpot
$10 Million
NY Lotto
Saturday Jackpot
$2.9 Million