Scientific Games must successfully pass a background information check from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation before the contract can officially go ahead.

CEO of the Iowa Lottery, Terry Rich said that “If the board approves it, we estimate this will save us nearly $1 million a year over the current contract.” The current contract he mentions is also held by Scientific Games.

The new computer system, to check and validate tickets should be ready to be rolled out by the beginning of July next year.

The new contract will require Scientific Games to supply communications equipment, software and computer terminals at nearly 2,500 lottery retail outlets across the state. The contract is fixed to a minimum term of 7 years with the option for three extensions of one year each.

The latest contract is the largest ever awarded by the Iowa Lottery and there was fierce competition for it from Scientific Games’ rivals Intralot and GTech. A dozen representatives from each company were present in the lottery board room when the decision was made. Lottery executives had thrown out previous bids from the same companies in May because it was impossible to make a decision on a winner.

The new system will allow retailers to sell traditional games such as instant scratch tickets, plus online games such as Powerball and Mega Millions. Some lottery retailers don’t have the capability now to sell online games. One feature of the new system is that it will allow players to check their own lottery tickets to determine whether they have a winner.

source: The Des Moines Register

Elizabeth, who prefers to be called Liz, said that she couldn’t believe it when she saw the ticket checking machine indicating that she’d won CA$10 million. “I thought there was something wrong with the machine,” she said.

With the prize confirmation print out in hand she went home to show her husband, telling him they’d won ten million dollars. After taking a few days for the feeling to sink in, the couple came forward on Thursday to claim their prize.

Their plans for the money include travelling around Canada, paying bills and to buy a new home and car. They said that they will also look into starting an education fund for their children and for the children of their closest friends.

source: The Vancouver Sun

Karen Rhodus won her prize after purchasing a “Double Play” ticket from a gas station near Cambridge City after being shown a home in the area by her realtor.

Ms. Rhodus, who claimed her prize yesterday, said that she would use the money to pay bills and help her parents to do some home improvement works.

The winning ticket matched all five numbers in the main draw but missed the Powerball. The player also purchased the Power Play option, automatically meaning it would be worth $1million.

The numbers drawn on March 6th were; 10, 29, 33, 41 and 59. The Powerball was 15.

“Time is of the essence for the holder of the ticket to come forward and claim their $1 million prize,” Idaho Lottery Director Jeff Anderson said in a release Wednesday. “At the close of business tomorrow … if no one has brought the ticket in for validation, the ticket will expire and we will be unable to pay the claim.”

Even if the prize winner doesn’t step forward to claim their $1million, the store where the ticket was sold will receive a bonus of $250,000 from the lottery. The prize money, if unclaimed, will go towards the Idaho Lottery’s fund for public education and permanent buildings of Idaho.

source: The Idaho Statesman

The ticket was purchased in the Neath Port Talbot area for the a Lotto draw made in march. Whoever purchased the ticket matched five numbers and the bonus ball to win the £118,000 prize.

According to Camelot, the deadline for claiming the prize was at 5.30 p.m. on Monday 30th August 2010.

From this record sales year, the state of Arizona has received $142 million in profits to use for a variety of good causes in the state. The money goes towards funding health care, education, homeless and wildlife programs all over Arizona.

Jeff Hatch-Miller, Executive Director of the Lottery said, ““We are proud to report these record-breaking sales figures, particularly at a time in our state’s history when every dollar counts. Raising almost $142 million in revenue for the state bodes well for our future performance. The Arizona Lottery is committed to its mission of generating revenues that directly impact and improve the quality of life for all our citizens.”

In the news release it was added, by Don Cardon of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce,  that the Arizona Lottery’s funding has been critical to help many people in the current economic climate by helping small businesses to secure loans, funding research and development institutes and promoting economic stability in rural areas of the state.

The lottery’s funding was also praised by Mark Holleran of Central Arizona Shelter Services as it has helped the service to continue to provide the homeless with “emergency and transitional shelter and supportive services.”

The most popular games in the  Arizona Lottery’s product mix remain instant scratch cards and it was indicated in the news release that the “$100 Million Cash Spectacular” ticket continued to be incredibly popular and was the source of much revenue to the lottery.

Director Hatch-Miller said that the lottery is working towards maintaining the excellent performance seen over the past fiscal year and will be developing many new and exciting products to keep lottery players playing.

The lucky winner chose to take his prize as a lump sum and will be awarded just over $5.6 million before state and federal taxes are taken from the prize amount.

Gary Grief, Texas Lottery Director said “Lotto Texas continues to have its loyal following among players in every part of the state,” he told the Texarkana Gazette.

The convenience store where Mr. Aydelott purchased the winning ticket will get a bonus of $80,000 (1 per cent of the prize value).

The jackpot for the next Lotto Texas draw will be an estimated $4million.

Ellen Moriarty, one of the owners of the shop (her husband Dominic co-owns it) told the Irish Independent that speculation is rife as to who has won the €6.15 million top prize. She said, “”People run over from the hospital all the time but we have our regular customers as well. We’re hoping it’s someone local.”

The Moriarty’s have owned the shop for the past 20 years and have never once sold a jackpot winning lottery ticket, despite it being a very popular place to purchase tickets.

The winning numbers drawn were 13, 23, 30, 37, 43, 45 and the bonus number was 16.

The winning numbers drawn on Friday night were 4, 10, 26, 32 , 41, and the Mega ball was 31.

Lottery officials have confirmed that the ticket was purchased in a liquor store in Morro Bay; the store will get a lottery bonus of $665,000 for selling such a valuable ticket.

Lottery spokesperson Alex Traverso said that the latest Mega Millions win is by far the biggest lottery win ever in San Obispo county and one of the largest ever in the whole state. He added that when the winner does come forward, he or she will be able to choose between a lump sum payment of $92.4 million or an annuity over 26 years. Both of these prizes will be subject to state and federal taxes.

Mega Millions winners have one year to claim their prizes, but it is very unusual to see winners of such large jackpots wait for more than a week, added Traverso.

The first lucky winner is Matthew Sherman, 28, who won his $1million prize from a $5 New York Porker ticket. He purchases his ticket on August 13th but didn’t scratch it off until he got home after running errands all day. Mr. Sherman is a father of two and he told reporters, ““I got home, scratched and then just kept going over it, over and over again to make sure I was reading it right. I still can’t believe this.”

Sherman said that he plans to use some of his winnings to help fund his children’s future education and to take a cruise with his wife. He will also be treating himself to “an old muscle car”.

The other winner is 55 year old Eric Strader, also of Greece. He won his prize after playing the “Big Money” New York Lottery scratch card ticket. He was out clothes shopping with a nephew when he decided to purchase a ticket at a news stand, it turned out to be a big winner. “I took the ticket and actually put it in my pocket and went to J.C. Penney to purchase my pants and then I went outside and screamed.” he said.

As for his plans for the money, Strader said that he would use his new found wealth to invest, buy a new truck and pay off all of his outstanding debts. He also has a desire to travel and said that the prize would definitely help towards this.

“I am not that excited yet, but once the money hits my account it will be a different story.” said Strader