Amazing Starts Here, a podcast from the National Lottery, is starting its second season. Sam Quek, TV presenter and Olympic gold medalist, travels the UK to discover inspiring stories from ordinary people and projects who do extraordinary things in their community with a little help from The National Lottery.
In the Powerball draw on October 4th, there were no jackpot winners. It’s noteworthy that Powerball has never before offered billion-dollar jackpots in consecutive cycles.
The Colorado Lottery has launched a campaign called “Wilderness Convenience” as part of its commitment to nature conservation. The campaign features a TV spot, radio, digital OOH, social media, web, and digital point-of-sale materials. In the TV spot, a young woman enters a convenience store to buy a lottery ticket, only to find that the store has been transformed into a forest. She encounters various outdoor enthusiasts and even an unseen creature vying for a lottery ticket. The campaign aims to show how the Colorado Lottery’s proceeds positively impact the lives of Coloradans and connect gaming with conservation efforts.
Pennsylvania’s state Senate has unanimously passed legislation that would empower the Department of Revenue to pursue lottery winnings and income tax returns of individuals who have unpaid turnpike tolls. The bill aims to address the issue of uncollected tolls, which amounted to over $155 million in a 12-month period ending in 2022. Under the proposed legislation, the Department of Revenue could divert funds from lottery prizes exceeding $2,500 or income tax returns if there are no prior claims, such as unpaid state taxes, child support, or court-ordered restitution. Additionally, a $20 fee could be imposed for each case where funds are intercepted. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
The Massachusetts State Lottery has announced a record-breaking net profit of $1.193 billion for the 2023 fiscal year, marking the highest total in the lottery’s history. This achievement was driven by record-setting revenues of $6.148 billion, surpassing the previous year’s record of $5.863 billion. The lottery’s strong performance resulted in an all-time high prize payout for players, with $4.483 billion in prizes awarded in FY 2023. Additionally, the lottery’s network of retailers earned $350 million in commissions and bonuses during the fiscal year.
In fiscal year 2023, the Texas Lottery achieved record-breaking sales of $8.73 billion, marking its 13th consecutive year of record sales. This impressive performance led to an unprecedented contribution of $2.162 billion to fund Texas public education and veterans’ services. It’s the first time the Texas Lottery has generated over $2 billion for its beneficiaries and resulted from the popularity of innovative $100 scratch ticket games and significant jackpots. Scratch ticket sales accounted for 77.1% of total sales, reaching $6.729 billion, while draw games achieved a record-breaking $1.996 billion in sales.
The Idaho Lottery’s ” $1,000,000 Raffle” will offer players two $1 million prizes, and the number of tickets sold will increase from 250,000 to 450,000. This means your odds of winning $1 million have improved to 1 in 225,000. There will also be two $10,000 winners and better lower-tier prizes. Tickets go on sale on October 21, with the winner announced on December 27.
Scientific Games has been honored with two 2023 Communitas Awards for its commitment to corporate social responsibility. The first award, the Communitas Leadership in Ethical and Environmental Responsibility, recognizes the company’s high ethical standards and sustainable practices in its daily operations. The second award, Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility for Responsible Gaming, acknowledges Scientific Games’ Healthy Play program and the 2022 National Responsible Gaming Study.