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Lottery News for July, 2003

Thursday, July 31, 2003

 – Powerball Jackpot Climbs to $33 Million.  There were no Powerball jackpot winners Wednesday but 301,747 players across the nation won a total of more than $2.2 million in prizes in America's Game.  Because no one correctly matched all six numbers in Wednesday's drawing the jackpot grew to an estimated $33 million, with a cash option of $18 million.
Lottery option attractive for some Oklahomans.  As state lotteries continue to turn ordinary citizens into millionaires, an Oklahoma state lottery looks more and more attractive to lawmakers and advocates looking for a way to ease the state's budgetary woes.
Voting for dollars?.  Doing your civic duty could become much more lucrative under an initiative filed Wednesday that seeks to turn Arizona elections into a statewide game of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?"

Wednesday, July 30, 2003

 – Lottery official testifies couple won $25M.  A top New Jersey Lottery official testified yesterday that his own investigation into a disputed $25 million prize found that the winning ticket belongs to an Englewood couple now at the center of a legal battle over the money.
Florida Man Claims $12 Million Jackpot.  Seven years of playing the same lotto numbers paid off big for a Palm City (Martin County) man.  Tuesday he redeemed the jackpot ticket from the June 18 Florida Lotto drawing worth an estimated $12 million.
$5 million Texas Lottery jackpot unclaimed.  As the midnight deadline passed Monday night, Kenneth Ford locked the doors of the Texas Lottery Commission claims department, and $5 million dollars quietly went unclaimed.
 – Rich Merchant's Wife in Lottery Windfall.  The wife of a wealthy Lebanese businessman has owned up to being the winner of the biggest jackpot in the history of Lebanon's national lottery, after four days of rampant media speculation.
Tennessee lottery summit to be secret.  The Tennessee lottery board will meet in secret when it picks a law firm to replace one rejected last week by Gov. Phil Bredesen despite a general inclination to "make things as open as possible," the chairman said Tuesday.
 – 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 Michigan and 2 in New York.  For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

Tuesday, July 29, 2003

 – Don't forget to check back with us tonight at 11:00 PM Eastern Time for the live $27 million Big Game Mega Millions drawing results!
$25M question: Who is credible?.  Yesterday 21 co-workers squared off in a New Jersey courtroom, where Superior Court Judge Marguerite Simon must decide who gets the $25 million from the Big Game Mega Millions drawing March 15.
 – New Mexico Lottery reports record FY2003 revenue.  The New Mexico Lottery Authority has posted a record $137 million in revenues for its fiscal year 2003 ending June 30, 2003, an increase of $3.1 million over the previous year.
Brushfire Lands N.J. Lottery Advertising Account.  The New Jersey Lottery has awarded its two-year, $10 million advertising account to Brushfire.  The Whippany, N.J., shop replaces five-year incumbent GraphicaGroup in Chester, N.J., which crafted the print campaign featuring the lottery's tagline, "For every dream, there's a jackpot."

Monday, July 28, 2003

7-Eleven to sell lottery tickets online at kiosks.  7-Eleven Inc. is putting lottery tickets at its customers' fingertips by adding lottery ticket sales to services available at its Vcom electronic commerce kiosks in 1,000 stores in 14 states and the District of Columbia.
 – Lottery learns Texas must pick a game.  The head of the state lottery agency said Wednesday that he will not recommend that Texas join both major multistate lotto games, a concept pitched last month by the Lottery Commission chairman.
Rhode Island Lottery Drops The Ball.  The Rhode Island Lottery plans to double the prize money for the Wild Money drawing on Saturday after it discovered a mistake in the game earlier this week.
Virginia Lottery Shatters Records for Fiscal Year 2003.  Virginia Lottery profits, which are dedicated by constitutional mandate to support public education (K-12) in the Commonwealth, came to more than $375.2 million for the fiscal year that ended at midnight June 30, 2003.
Cohen criticizes Bredesen on lottery.  Sen. Steve Cohen, chief sponsor of legislation creating Tennessee's new lottery and an increasingly frequent critic of Gov. Phil Bredesen, asked the governor Thursday why the lottery's board of directors was not allowed to choose its own credit provider.
Fla. Lottery Official Arrested on Bribery Charges.  A Florida Lottery district manager was arrested on bribery charges Friday after allegedly accepting payment from a Gainesville store owner he thought was seeking preferential treatment in getting a lottery ticket machine.

Sunday, July 27, 2003

 – Announcing: Lottery Post News Service.  In response to the many suggestions we receive daily, and motivated by the positive feedback we often receive on our lottery news content, we are proud to announce the new Lottery Post News Service.
 – Texas-Size Jackpots.  The stakes are about to get higher for Texans who play the lottery.  State officials are ready to join a giant jackpot lottery like Powerball where the payoff could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.  Some folks are seeing green, while other are predicting disaster.

Saturday, July 26, 2003

 – There was no jackpot winner in the Friday Mega Millions drawing, but 6 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $175,000 prize: 1 in Illinois, 2 in New York, 2 in Ohio, and 1 in Virginia.  For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

Friday, July 25, 2003

 – Don't forget to check back with us tonight at 11:00 PM Eastern Time for the live $21 million Big Game Mega Millions drawing results!

Thursday, July 24, 2003

 – Florida Lotto Rolls to $75 Million.  Florida Lotto will continue its reign as top lottery jackpot in the United States, as no ticket matched all six numbers in last night's drawing.  Saturday's $75 million jackpot is the largest since December, 2002.
Texas likely to join only one multistate lottery.  Texas Lottery Commission Executive Director Reagan Greer said he's not ready to recommend which multistate lottery Texas should join, and that his decision won't include trying to join more than one such game.  More:
  • Scratch dual multistate lottery idea
  • Texas unlikely to join two multistate lotteries
Massachusetts Lottery Seeks Ad Agency.  After half a decade without an advertising budget, the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission has sent requests for responses to agencies for its $5 million account.
Town's saloon fights to keep state lottery.  For the Lube Room saloon in the small California town of Dorrington, and for hundreds of other California small businesses, the lottery numbers aren't right.  It's not that their books are messed up.  It's that under the California Lottery's "Low Volume Policy," they aren't selling enough tickets.
Just retired, man hits $5M jackpot.  Retirement has meant a definite lifestyle change at the Avati household.  Three days after retiring from Algoma Steel Inc., Mario Avati, 54, discovered he had a share of Saturday’s $10 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot.

Wednesday, July 23, 2003

 – Federal Tax Cut Puts More Money In Winners' Pockets.  Lottery winners across the United States can pocket more cash, thanks to the federal tax rate cut that took effect July 1.  The new law reduces the tax rate to 25 percent on all prizes of more than $5,000 paid to US citizens and resident aliens, and is retroactive with an effective date of January 1.
$60 million Florida jackpot up for grabs tonight.  Florida lottery machines will be cranking out tickets at an expected rate of 22-thousand per minute before tonight's drawing, as lottery hopefuls take their shot at the largest lottery jackpot in the United States.  Tonight's Florida Lotto jackpot of $60 million is the result of nine consecutive rollovers, and is the 13th largest in Florida's history.
Penn. couple claims other half of $231.3 million Powerball jackpot.  A Western Pennsylvania couple yesterday picked up a $73.6 million check from Gov. Rendell after winning the July 9 Powerball drawing.  Scott and Marian Calligan of Cranberry Township, which is north of Pittsburgh, elected to take their $130 million winning in a lump-sum payment.  The couple said they waited to come forward with the winning ticket until they had assembled a team of attorneys and financial advisers.  "I slept with it under the bed," Scott Calligan said of the winning $5 ticket he purchased at a 7-Eleven store in Cranberry Township.  More:
  • Cranberry couple collect Powerball's $73.6 million
  • The other Powerball half surfaces
  • Western Pa. couple announced as Powerball winner
  • Pennsylvania Couple Comes Forward as Other Powerball Jackpot Winner
  • PA Powerball Winners Come Forward
Lottery law firm removed.  Amid press accounts questioning Gov. Phil Bredesen's ties with law firm Bass Berry & Sims and its contract to represent the new Tennessee state lottery, the administration Tuesday admitted to an "error in judgment" and asked the firm to step aside.  More: Governor cancels law firm pick for lottery.
Partnership may help state lottery.  The CEO of the Georgia Lottery will speak to the Tennessee lottery board Monday about a possible cost-saving partnership with Tennessee.
 – 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, July 22, 2003

 – Don't forget to check back with us tonight at 11:00 PM Eastern Time for the live $16 million Big Game Mega Millions drawing results!
No Claim Filed for Winning Powerball Jackpot Ticket Sold In PA As of Close-of-Business Monday.  As of 4 p.m. Monday, no claim had been filed at Pennsylvania Lottery headquarters for the July 9, 2003, Powerball jackpot ticket sold in Pennsylvania.  The number for claimants to call, 717-986-4720, is in operation from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.  The Pennsylvania Lottery encourages the holder of the winning Powerball ticket to sign the back of the ticket, contact a financial adviser and then contact the Lottery at the number given above.  The prize must be claimed at Lottery headquarters in Middletown, Dauphin County.  Two winning tickets - one sold in Pennsylvania, the other in Missouri - matched all five white balls, 19-21-26-31-51, and the red Powerball, 40, in the July 9 drawing.  The jackpot prize of $261,300,000 will be split between the two winning tickets.
Time Running Out For Winning TX Lottery Ticket Holder.  Texas Lottery Commission officials are asking San Antonians to check their pockets, their sofas, anywhere for a lottery ticket worth $5 million that expires on July 28.  More: Lottery officials search for winner of $5 million jackpot.
Tennessee Lottery board gets credit, lawyers.  In its first meeting Monday, the state's lottery board of directors received a line of credit, met its new lawyers and heard about a possible partnership with the Georgia lottery.  More:
  • Nashville law firm wins lottery job
  • Credibility is vital, lottery expert says
  • Lawmakers question lottery pick
  • Lottery Corporation board holds first meeting
  • Bredesen suggests partnership for lottery
Lottery sales highest in years.  Ticket sales for the Nebraska Lottery increased 9.4 percent for the fiscal year ending June 30.

Monday, July 21, 2003

 – Lotto South ticket worth $7 million sold in Georgia.  A ticket sold in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia matched all six numbers to win the $7 million Lotto South jackpot Saturday night, lottery officials said.
Clean lottery imperative, Bredesen to tell board.  Keep Tennessee's lottery squeaky-clean.  That's the mandate Gov. Phil Bredesen will give the seven members of the state lottery board when they meet for the first time today.  More:
  • Board bets it can find veteran for TN lottery
  • Lottery board begins business
  • Lottery board's next step: Picking a leader
  • Editorial: Let sun shine on Tennessee lottery
  • Lottery prompts push for schools to adopt uniform grading
Pennsylvania could get lucky if Powerball prize remains unclaimed.  The holder of the winning July 9 Powerball jackpot ticket purchased in Pennsylvania still has more than 350 days to claim the prize.  But if the prize goes unclaimed, the Pennsylvania Lottery Fund will win a jackpot of its own — nearly $10 million — and the owner of the store who sold the ticket will lose out on his prize for selling it.
Money is cushion, not cure-all.  Some lottery winners say the jackpot creates new problems.
There are lottery dreams, and then there's reality.  What would you do with a sudden windfall?  Take a trip, buy a house on the beach, make sure your family is well taken care of.  But would you quit your job?

Sunday, July 20, 2003

 – $60 Million Florida Jackpot Highest in 7 Months.  Because there were no jackpot winners in last night's Florida Lotto drawing, the jackpot grew to $60 million for the drawing to be held on Wednesday, July 23, 2003.  This is the largest Florida Lotto jackpot since December, 2002.

Saturday, July 19, 2003

 – There was no jackpot winner in the Friday Mega Millions drawing, but 1 lucky player from Massachusetts 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, July 18, 2003

 – Don't forget to check back with us tonight at 11:00 PM Eastern Time for the live $12 million Big Game Mega Millions drawing results!
Open meetings foreseen for Tenn. lottery.  The board of the Tennessee Lottery Corp. does not have to abide by the state's Sunshine Law and conduct its business in public, although Gov. Phil Bredesen says he thinks it should.  More: Bill permits secret meetings.
Arrival of lottery has some calling for uniform grading system in Tennessee.  Lawmakers and education officials believe uniform grading, a system that would define for every high school in Tennessee what level of achievement each letter grade represents, may now be a necessity thanks to the new Tennessee lottery set to begin early next year.
Boland urges governor to add Keno to Lottery.  State Rep. Mike Boland at a press conference Tuesday in Canton called for the addition of a new Illinois State Lottery game to provide additional revenue for the cash-strapped state.  More: Another lottery proposed to help plug budget hole.
Space shot seen as way to give lottery sales lift-off.  Looking for a way to spice up lottery sales?  The US company that put the first tourists into space has just the ticket - a trip to the International Space Station.
Geresbeck's store survives lottery publicity storm.  Although the media storm generated by Geresbeck's grocery store selling the largest lottery ticket in Maryland history may have petered out weeks ago, the store is still getting letters from people around the country asking for money.
Scratch tickets boost lottery sales in Iowa.  Powerball grabs the headlines, but old-fashioned scratch-off tickets made the biggest profits for the Iowa Lottery over the past 12 months.
State asked to help in lottery case.  Richard “Termite” Allender, a Trafalgar car salesman, had threatened to sue the Hoosier Lottery to reveal the time a winning Powerball ticket was sold March 12 at Joe’s Junction in Trafalgar, Indiana.
Cops thwart lottery scam.  A New York man suspected of trying to scam an elderly Illinois woman was arrested after police set up a sting at the victim's house Wednesday.
Judge upholds N.Y. casino law.  Legislation authorizing up to six casinos to be built in western New York and the Catskill Mountains, and video slot machines at horse racing tracks, was upheld today by a state judge.

Thursday, July 17, 2003

 – Florida Lotto $48 million: largest jackpot in USA.  The Florida Lotto jackpot, which rolled over to $48 million last night, is the largest lottery jackpot in the United States, as well as the highest Florida Lotto jackpot in four months ($50 million on March 12, 2003).
Lottery spending on the rise in WI.  The Wisconsin Lottery took in $435 million in sales during the last fiscal year, its largest total in seven years, officials said Wednesday.  More: Wisconsin Lottery posts highest sales since 1996.
Lottery's practice of cutting waste helps Oregon's coffers.  The Oregon State Lottery has a new boss and a new mission that's bringing in more cash to state coffers.
Backfence: A measly $14 million lottery jackpot? Forget abou it.  Somewhat sarcastic column: The Powerball sign I pass daily says "$14 million," which just looks pathetic.  Hardly enough for a down payment on my Dream House, which contains a monorail to the master bedroom, halls wide enough for Segways to pass one another, and a motorized foundation that allows me to rotate the house (via remote!) to catch both sunset and sunrise from whichever room I please.
Serious debate about enacting N.C. lottery can't wait any longer.  Editorial: North Carolina needs a lottery.
Three arrested for lottery fraud.  Three employees of a Eutawville convenience store were arrested earlier this month for issuing themselves more than $36,500 worth of South Carolina Education Lottery tickets without paying for them.
Geresbeck's Shares Mega Millions Winnings With Workers.  The owner of the store where a Mega Millions ticket was sold last month is sharing the store's bonus.

Wednesday, July 16, 2003

 – Lottery revenues approach record.  The Hoosier Lottery brought in near-record revenues in the past 12 months, with earnings topping $665 million.
Lottery Providing HOPE Windfall.  Georgia’s HOPE scholarship and Pre-K programs are getting a $24 million windfall thanks to more people buying lottery tickets.  More: Governor joins in $6 billion gala.
Couple loses $5,000 in lottery scam.  Another lottery scam cost a Colorado couple $5,000 in cash last week in a busy parking lot.
Taking litter out of the S.C. lottery.  To give losing lottery tickets a winning value, the South Carolina Education Lottery kicked off CleanSweep, a yearlong initiative designed to reduce trash caused by discarded lottery tickets.
Brooksville yard man wins $6 million Florida Lotto jackpot.  A Brooksville yard man can pay someone to cut his own grass now that he's a millionaire, thanks to a winning Florida Lotto ticket.
 – There was no jackpot winner in the Tuesday Mega Millions drawing, but 2 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $175,000 prize: 1 in Illinois and 1 in New York.  For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

Tuesday, July 15, 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 revenue a record.  The Georgia Lottery posted a record $2.604 billion in sales over the last 12 months, a gain of more than 6 percent over the previous year.
State hits $387.1 million payday with Oregon Lottery.  The state of Oregon hit a jackpot Monday as the Oregon Lottery announced it has sent the State of Oregon a record $387.1 million in profits.
Lump sum slices Lotto winner's jackpot.  Last week's New York Lotto jackpot winner opted for a lump-sum payment of nearly $6 million, a New York Lottery spokeswoman said, rather than 26 annual payments that would equal $11 million.
Proposed N.D. lottery rules would allow ticket winners to stay anonymous.  Proposed rules for North Dakota's new state lottery would allow customers to use checks or credit cards to buy tickets and keep their names secret if they win any cash.
Million-dollar casino ticket proves bogus.  A Detroit man is under investigation for an alleged forgery police say was so clever, it took a microscope to confirm.

Monday, July 14, 2003

 – Millions go unclaimed in Michigan lottery.  A staggering $395 million has gone unclaimed in the Michigan lottery's 30-year history. The largest single loss: a $34 million Lotto winner bought at an East Lansing Meijer store in 1997.
Tenn. lottery board may keep business private.  The new lottery law enacted by the General Assembly authorizes the Tennessee lottery board to determine what is confidential and what is not, prompting critics to say that the seven-member board that will govern the lottery can keep secret any aspect of the $1 billion lottery operation, including information about contracts with vendors.
Scholarships from lottery to be icing on cake.  Colleges and universities around Tennessee are taking a wait-and-see approach to deciding how to fit the scholarship money they control with the lottery scholarships that soon will be flowing in.
Easley going for final push on lottery.  North Carolina Governor Mike Easley has called House co-speakers Jim Black and Richard Morgan into his office to ask them for a lottery vote.
Hitting The Jackpot Of Questions.  When Powerball fever broke out last week and water cooler conversations came down to, "What would you do with the money?," Washington investors got another reminder of how hard it is to find good investments these days.
Jamaican gov't to tax lottery winnings.  Finance Minister Omar Davies has signed a provisional tax order for the levy a 15 percent tax on Jamaica lottery winnings, but it remained unclear yesterday when the tax is to be implemented.

Saturday, July 12, 2003

 – Mega Millions Jackpot Winner!  There was one $34 million Mega Millions jackpot winner from New York in the Friday drawing.  More details to follow after the winner comes forward to claim their prize.
Also, 11 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $175,000 prize: 2 in New Jersey, 2 in Illinois, 3 in Massachusetts, 1 in Michigan, 1 in New York, and 2 in Virginia.  For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

Friday, July 11, 2003

 – Don't forget to check back with us tonight at 11:00 PM Eastern Time for the live $34 million Big Game Mega Millions drawing results!
Powerball Winner Identified in Missouri.  Their spending plans decidedly modest, a Missouri couple came forward Thursday to claim half of the $261.3 million Powerball lottery jackpot.  More:
  • Missouri couple contemplates life after striking it very rich
  • Winners of Lottery Want a Tractor
  • News Release: Hermann Couple Claim Missouri's Largest Jackpot
PA Lottery Officials to Winner: Call Us.  Pennsylvania Lottery officials have identified the Butler County store that sold one of two winning tickets in Wednesday's $261 million Powerball jackpot, but the winner has yet to come forward.  More: 7–11 Delivers Lottery Dream.
DJ spins a wild lottery hoax.  As word circulated yesterday morning that a Pennsylvanian had bought one of two winning tickets for the $261.3 million Powerball jackpot, Philadelphia radio DJ Paul Barsky disclosed around 8:20 a.m. it was Nancy Tolino, his traffic reporter.
Local companies to give lottery a lift.  Stellar employees at Giant Eagle and UPMC Health Systems could soon be showered with Pennsylvania lottery tickets as incentives..  More: Rendell hopes businesses will give lottery tickets to workers.
N.D. to launch lottery early next year.  North Dakota plans to launch its new state lottery early next year, the state's interim lottery director said.

Thursday, July 10, 2003

 – $261.3 Million Powerball Jackpot Won By Two Tickets.  America's Game paid off big for two winning tickets, one sold in Missouri and one in Pennsylvania.  The winners will split a $261.3 million Powerball jackpot.  Both winners will have to decide if they want 29-year annuity or the cash option worth $73.6 million each.  The tickets holders will have 60 days after the tickets are validated to make that decision.  The $261.3 million dollar jackpot is the fourth largest Powerball jackpot in history and the largest lottery jackpot in the world this year.  In addition to the jackpot winners, 3,005,003 players across the nation won a total of $21,578,510 million in prizes.  Forty players from Arizona (2), Colorado (2), Connecticut (7), Iowa (2), Indiana (5), Kentucky, Louisiana (2), Minnesota (2), Missouri (2), Nebraska, New Mexico (2), Pennsylvania (9), South Carolina (2), and Wisconsin correctly matched the 5 white numbers and won $100,000.  This 18-draw jackpot run started on Saturday, May 10.  During this run, 12.7 million Powerball players won a total of approximately $89.5 million in cash prizes.  Players purchased more than 118 million tickets between Sunday and Wednesday night.  More:
  • Mo., Pa. Sell Winning Powerball Tickets
  • Lucky numbers revealed for $261.3-million Powerball lottery
  • Big jackpot draws lottery hopefuls to Greenwich
  • Owens drives Dogs past Rock Cats
  • Lottery helps Ma and Pa’s meet rush
  • Fever returns: Ticket purchases up as jackpot grows
  • Lottery machine glitch little deterrence
  • Lottery Fever Hits Hub City
  • $260 million Powerball payout draws crowds
  • Big jackpot pumps money into state coffers
  • Run for the border
Fraudulent state lottery website is shut down.  The Massachusetts State Lottery Commission yesterday helped shut down an Internet scam targeting lottery players -- but not before the fraudulent website had drawn in hundreds if not thousands of victims nationwide.  More: Scam bilks hopeful lottery winners.
MN DNR puts lottery money to use with new boat.  The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has a new River Pro 2072 LoPro shallow water patrol boat to be used on the St. Croix River, courtesy of the Minnesota State Lottery.
Frequent picks not necessarily best.  Some lottery players won't take a chance with quick pick — letting a computer assign numbers randomly.

Wednesday, July 9, 2003

 – Powerball Results for Wednesday, July 9, 2003: 19-21-26-31-51 +40, Power Play: 3
 – Attention Powerball Players:  We will post the results for tonight's $250 million Powerball drawing within one minute of the drawing at 11:00 PM Eastern Time.
 – Powerball Fever as $250 Million Jackpot Spurs Big Sales.  Lottery players everywhere are in the grip of Powerball fever, as tonight's $250 million jackpot is the fourth-largest Powerball jackpot ever.  More:
  • Lottery fever runs high as jackpot rises higher
  • Powerball jackpot fever hits Vt.
  • Lottery sets off gas, soda sales
  • Powerball pulverizes financial prospects
  • Powerball ticket sales soar for growing jackpot
  • $250 jackpot brings out Powerball players
  • Powerball Lines Getting Longer
  • $250 million jackpot powers local dreams
  • Powerball fever hits Wisconsin
  • Players dream of Powerball win
  • Feel lucky enough to win tonight's $250M Powerball?
Fake lottery site cons players.  An international company has allegedly created a website imitating the official Massachusetts State Lottery website and has been bilking countless players across the country, state lottery officials say.
 – There was no jackpot winner in the Tuesday Mega Millions drawing, but 7 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $175,000 prize: 2 in Georgia, 1 in Illinois, 2 in Massachusetts, 1 in New York, and 1 in Virginia.  For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

Tuesday, July 8, 2003

 – Don't forget to check back with us tonight at 11:00 PM Eastern Time for the live $26 million Big Game Mega Millions drawing results!
Woman won $1.3 million, but not the extra $5,000.  The Louisiana Lottery Corp. announced Monday that they were wrong when they said a Metairie woman won both the Louisiana Lotto and a Powerball prize on June 25.
Growing Powerball Jackpot Boosts S.C. Lottery Sales.  A growing Powerball jackpot has meant increased sales for the South Carolina Education Lottery.  Across the state, lottery players lined up for a chance to win the second-largest jackpot offered in the state since the South Carolina Education Lottery joined Powerball last year.
Keno winner out of luck.  The Massachusetts Lottery Commission will not review its policies and procedures as a result of the ordeal of a Dracut man who lost out on a $2,250 winning Keno ticket late last year.

Monday, July 7, 2003

 – $250 MILLION: STRONG SALES BOOST POWERBALL JACKPOT.  Stronger than expected sales are pushing the Powerball jackpot to higher levels.  The state lottery directors that sell the Powerball game have issued a new estimated jackpot after finding that the current estimate of $240 million is likely to be surpassed.  Besides being the largest lottery jackpot currently offered in the world, the new estimate of $250 million is also the fourth largest Powerball jackpot ever offered.  The estimated cash option for the drawing is $141 million.
 – Powerball Jackpot Grows To $240 Million.  Lottery players across the nation will be searching for some post-holiday fireworks as the Powerball jackpot continues to grow.  Because no one correctly matched all six numbers in Saturday's drawing the jackpot grew to an estimated $240 million, with a cash option of $136.1 million.  That's the largest current jackpot in the world and it would rank as the fourth largest Powerball jackpot ever.  There were no Powerball jackpot winners Saturday but 1,812,945 players across the nation won a total of more than $11.6 million in prizes in America's Game.  Sixteen players from Arizona (3), Colorado, Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky (2), Louisiana, Missouri (2), New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Carolina (2), and Wisconsin correctly matched the 5 white numbers and won $100,000.  This current jackpot run started with the Saturday, May 10 drawing.  The drawing on Saturday night was the 17th consecutive draw without being hit.  Almost 9.8 million Powerball players across the nation have won prizes since this jackpot run started in early May.  Players purchased more than 70 million tickets between Thursday and Saturday night.
Tenn. lottery board pressed to produce quick plan.  Three Nashvillians tapped by Gov. Phil Bredesen to serve as architects for the Tennessee lottery are under pressure from the governor and an impatient public to have the games running by the first quarter of next year.
Public to be given a say in UK Lottery grants.  UK  Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has described the new White Paper on reform of the National Lottery as the "biggest upheaval since its inception".  More: MSPs back Scots lottery proposal.
Couple lost love but will share Lotto money.  To stress the strength of their love, a couple in Kavala [Greece] bought a Lotto lottery ticket together but, when it won, the man said the prize was his alone, leading to a break up and eight years of court cases.

Sunday, July 6, 2003

 – $240 MILLION POWERBALL JACKPOT WEDNESDAY.  There were no Powerball jackpot winners Saturday, sending the Wednesday Powerball jackpot to an eye-popping $240 million.  When the jackpot gets into this range, players are advised to purchase their tickets early to avoid missing out.  The results from the Saturday drawing are: 05-17-25-37-49, PowerBall: 21, Power Play: 2.  This is the largest Powerball jackpot since Andrew "Jack" Whittaker from West Virginia won a $315 million jackpot on December 25, 2002.

Saturday, July 5, 2003

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

Friday, July 4, 2003

 – Happy Independence Day from BigGameLottery.com!
Don't forget to check back with us tonight at 11:00 PM Eastern Time for the live $20 million Big Game Mega Millions drawing results!

Thursday, July 3, 2003

 – Powerball Jackpot Soars to $200 Million.  Lottery players across the nation will be celebrating the holiday weekend with fireworks, picnics, and Powerball.  Because no one correctly matched all six numbers in Wednesday's drawing the jackpot grew to an estimated $200 million, with a cash option of $114 million, the fourth highest Powerball jackpot ever.  Although there were no Powerball jackpot winners Wednesday, 1,272,122 players across the nation won a total of more than $10.2 million in prizes in America's Game.  Nine players from Arizona, Iowa, Indiana (2), New Hampshire, Oregon (2), Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin correctly matched the 5 white numbers and won $100,000.  Players purchased more than 52 million tickets between Sunday and Wednesday night.
 – Part-time letter carrier is winner of $183 million Mega Millions jackpot.  When Bernadette Gietka looked at a lottery ticket she had just bought and noticed it began with the numbers "one, two, three," she thought she "might as well throw this one in the can."  Lucky for her she didn't.  The ticket, one of four Gietka bought on a whim while at a store with her mother, was the only winner in the $183 million jackpot drawing for the Mega Millions game June 20.  Editor: She has excellent taste in cars.  More:
  • She played, she won
  • Part-time worker, full-scale wealth
  • Winner claims Mega Millions pot
  • Baltimore County Woman Comes Forward As MegaMillions Winner
  • Mega Millions Winner Claims $112M Prize
Lottery battle puts spouse in the red.  If you didn't get along with your spouse - in fact you were contemplating filing for dissolution of the marriage and you hit the California Lottery jackpot unbeknownst to your spouse - what would you do?  You would do the normal thing, of course: consider the winnings your separate property, file for dissolution without listing the asset, and live life ever after as a wealthy divorcee.  Until your "ex" found out.
Lottery fever: $300M and counting.  On June 20, Bernadette Geitka, a Mega Millions lottery player in Baltimore, picked a collection of numbers worth as much as $183 million.  Saturday, the rival Powerball game will hold its semi-weekly drawing, whose top prize has an estimated value of $200 million.  Taken together, those payouts equal more than $300 million -- and provide further evidence of the biggest trend in lotteries since states began to legalize numbers games in the 1960s.
Teen dropout wins fortune.  A teenage girl who left school with no qualifications and lives in a council commission home has won £1.8 million on the UK National Lottery.  More: Sixteen-year-old scoops £1.8m on lottery.
Troopers raid Native pulltab operation.  Authorities have raided a pulltab operation owned by the Native Village of Barrow, fueling a long-simmering dispute between the state and village leaders who say they have a federal right to conduct gambling without an Alaska gaming permit.
 – $200 MILLION POWERBALL JACKPOT SATURDAY.  There were no Powerball jackpot winners Wednesday, expanding the Saturday Powerball jackpot to an astronomical $200 million.  When the jackpot gets into this range, players are advised to purchase their tickets early to avoid missing out.  The results from the Saturday drawing are: 16-17-24-26-45, PowerBall: 36, PowerPlay: 5.  This is the largest Powerball jackpot since Andrew "Jack" Whittaker from West Virginia won a $315 million jackpot on December 25, 2002.

Wednesday, July 2, 2003

 – $183 million Mega Millions winner to be revealed today.  Twelve days after becoming the biggest lottery winner in Maryland history, the woman who let the computer at a Middle River grocery store choose her lucky numbers will be introduced today and handed a check for $112 million, the cash option value of the $183 million jackpot.
Jowell to unveil UK lottery overhaul.  The UK culture secretary, Tessa Jowell, is to launch a major shakeup of the national lottery in a white paper to be published tomorrow.
Ohio lottery makes $31.3 million less than goal.  The Ohio Lottery made $31.3 million less than expected during the last budget year, forcing the Ohio Department of Education to dip into a reserve fund to make up the difference.
Powerball comes reluctantly.  Powerball went on sale in Vermont for the first time Tuesday, albeit reluctantly, as a computer terminal in Manchester refused to spit out the first ceremonial ticket.
Former TX lottery director cleared of wrongdoing.  Gary Grief, the former acting executive director of the Texas Lottery Commission, did nothing wrong when he authorized the purchase of equipment for a revised Lotto Texas game before the changes were approved by the commission, the state auditor concluded.
A.C.'s newest casino thinks big.  The $1.1 billion Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, the first new casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey since 1990, officially opens for business early Thursday morning.
 – There was no jackpot winner in the Tuesday drawing, but 3 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $175,000 prize: 1 in Michigan, 1 in Ohio, and 1 in Washington.  For the complete rundown of winners by prize category, see the Winning Combinations page.

Tuesday, July 1, 2003

 – Texas may join both big lotteries.  In a proposal that one out-of-state official said could kill Lotto Texas and spark major changes in the lottery industry, Texas Lottery Commission Chairman Tom Clowe on Monday suggested signing the state up with both Powerball and Mega Millions, the two megajackpot, multistate games.  More: Big lottery guns aim for Texans.
Don't forget to check back with us tonight at 11:00 PM Eastern Time for the live $16 million Big Game Mega Millions drawing results!

◄ August, 2003 June, 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