Interesting
Stories

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Beware - This Could Have
Been A Costly Error
TLC errs during live Nov 19, 2020
Pick3 Evening draw causing others to err.
An interesting read. Posted 11/21/20
Click here

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A Most Intriguing Email
It's extremely well written, funny, informative
and complimentary. A must read for all.
Posted 9/28/20. Click here

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A Second Letter Has Been
Sent To The TLC Showing
No Citizen Could Obtain The
Same Information I Requested
& Still Haven't Received
- Sad but True -
A link to this letter was added to my original
Open Records posting. Go read the new letter and
see the Weeky Reports I had requested but still
haven't obtained ... You'll find the new paragraph
under "Before Reading This Page" near the
top. Originally Posted 7/28/20 but
Updated 8/8/20, Click here

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By Using My Fun 5's Deposition,
The Lottery Has Claimed I Don't
Qualify As A "News Agency"
or As A "Reporter" And Must
Pay To Receive Public Information
I guess what ya'll read on my site is NOT of
public interest! <grin>. Read my response and
see the evidence that I do qualify under Gov
Code 552.275(j). I think many of you will find
the links to previous postings of great interest. It
certainly brought back memories for me! Be sure
to read the editorial found in the 7/19/20
Pick3 Combinations Report found on this page
too. Director Grief has budgeted $110,000 for
HIS out of state travel for FY21.
Originally Posted 7/28/20, Click here

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Playing the Lottery is
Not Worth Dying Over
Italy, Spain & China suspended
lottery sales in an attempt to
protect their citizens. Obviously,
the US doesn't care because
they are continuing to lure millions
of players from their homes
each day for the sole purpose
of purchasing lottery tickets
- a non- essential product.
What a confusing message
officials have sent ... They say,
"stay at home and only leave
to purchase "essential" items -
if your caught going out
you could be fined" as they
continue to allow the sale of
lottery products. A must read.
Posted 4/8/20. Click here

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As it appears in The Intercept
States Declare Lotteries "Essential"
The Government only cares about
your money, not your well being.
Unbelievable 4/16/20 - Click here

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Texas' Fun 5's
Scratch Ticket Lawsuit

TX Supreme Court Hears
Oral Arguments On The
Fun 5 Scratch Ticket
Texas Lottery Players have hope. Many
thanks to the outstanding attorneys
gracious enough to represent hard
working Texans who were rejected
by their elected officials. Read Dec 3, 2019
story on the Fun 5's Update page. Click here

The Lawyers Blog
Updated June 23, 2020 - Mark Lanier, the lead
appellate attorney for the lottery players in the
Fun 5's case, won a $2.1 BILLION dollar
appeal in the Johnson & Johnson case. WOW!
No Sovereign Immunity for G-Tech/IGT.
Texas Supreme Court says, they can't lie
to us and get away with it. Our cases will be
heard in the courts. Click here

Check Out Lotto Report's
New Fun 5's "Site Map"
And Continue To Watch
Our Update Page!

Media Coverage - Fun 5's
Many news stories can be found
on our NEW Site Map page
USA Today - Caller Times (1/23/18)

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Director Gary Griefs
Favorite Pastime
- Traveling The World For Free -
A minimum of 105 trips at a cost
of a minimum of $160,000.
An unbeliebable story - Click here

- A Must Read -
Complaint Letter to Governor Abbott
Posted 11/9/19 - Click here
Exhibits to letter:
Exhibits A - D - Click here
Exhibits E - J - Click here

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TX Attorney General
Stabbing Lottery Players
If you ever needed proof that our
elected officials only cared about your
money with no consumer protection,
this is it! The AG will allow the TLC
to sell deceptive tickets, inflate prize
amounts causing you to pay
higher taxes, and allows
the TLC to not be transparent.
To just name a few things!
Posted 10/20/19 - Click here

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State Representative Thompson
Says, "Texas Lottery Sucks"
Boy, did she ever hit the nail on the
head!!! Just wait until she sees the
"Big Ticket" and a few other things I want
to show her if I can. You must watch
this video at the capitol. Funnneeeee ....
Posted May 13, 2019,
Click here then scroll down.

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How to play Fireball,
4/29/19 - Click here

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Duplicate Winning Numbers
Drawn? Hmm ... Are
Computertized Draws
"Really" Random
& Trustworthy?
Yet another investigative story
showing WHY RNG's should be
banned for use by the Legislatures.
Can you imagine having the same set
of 5 or 6 numbers drawn in consecutive
draws? Of course, the lottery ignored it!
Remarkable findings - every one should
read this story by Jason Clayworth,
DeMoines Register, 1/31/19.Click here.

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Lottery Lawsuit Granted
Class Action Status
Affects 7.2 Million Tickets
In 19 States
Lotteries have been taking advantage
of players for a long time. In so many
ways and players have no recourse.
So I'm thrilled to see a court allow
players to fight back. Great story - let's
all hope there's justice for players in the
end. Great story by Jason Clayworth,
an Investigative Reporter with
the Des Moines Register
Posted 1/29/19 - Click here

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NO Billion Dollar Winner
in Second Chance
Willy Wonka Drawing
On April 18, 2018, the players who were
selected "privately" during a "public drawing"
appeared in Las Vegas for a so called
"chance" to win a billion dollars. Of
course, no one won a $1 billion. Imagine
that! Click here for complete story.
(Posted 5/1/18)

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Unbelievable Duplicate
Quick Picks
Louisiana players buys 4
tickets, all tickets have
the same numbers.
Very sad. (Nov 7, 2013 -
Updated Nov 12, 2013)
Click here.

Virginia Player Receives
Duplicate Quick Picks
Read March 27, 2016 entry
on "Continued" Daily Page
Click here

Texas Player Buys
7 Quick Picks And
Receives 7 Identical
Tickets
An Unbelievable
Story - Posted 3/15/12,
Click here

Will Texas Honor
The Rule & The Face
Value of My Scratch
Tickets
This letter was submitted
to Gary Grief - Director
of the TLC. I'm asking
that my winning tickets
be paid - Unbelievable
story and only the tip
of the iceberg regarding
Texas scratch tickets.
After you read the letter,
tell me - do you think
it's a winning ticket?
Should they pay me?
Posted 12/10/12.
Click here

Lottery Terminals
Err - Here is
Absolute Proof
Posted 7/12/07 -
Don't let this happen to
you. Check your own
tickets! Click here
Very Interesting.

Editorial & Opinions by Dawn Nettles

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5/15/20 - Yesterday I forgot to include the good news that the IGT/G-Tech reps got their bonuses back and for the last quarter too. Maybe my postings are getting results! I didn't hear that they received hazard pay which they should have gotten for running stores during a pandemic. I did not hear how many of them are sick - maybe someone will share this data too

One more thing .... yesterday I received an anonymous message telling me that I should congratulate lottery staff for their "soaring" sales ... I laughed because I KNEW this was an insider making an asinine statement. Folks - lottery staff gets NO credit for scratch ticket sales increasing - scratch tickets players will buy these tickets no matter what they are. Any piece of paper with latex on it and a chance to win some money would sell. Many, many scratch ticket players will spend their rent money, grocery money, gas money etc playing these games in hopes of winning money. The people I'm referencing do NOT read my site. In fact, most have no computers and no internet.

But on the other hand, lottery staff and Director Grief should get 100% of the credit for the decline of online sales by screwing up our games of choice. For the most part, online sales have declined for years. This would include Powerball and Mega Millions sales - the only thing that helps MM and PB each year are a couple of rolls where sales are driven by a huge jackpot amount.

Keep in mind, 85% of all lottery sales come from scratch ticket sales and this is really, really bad. This money comes from the low income areas. Which is NOT good.

My next story will focus on two lottery employees. I think you'll find it of great interest!

More later.

5/14/20 - A few interesting things and an update to the May 9th entry.

First, the good news - the TLC has announced they will re-open the Claim Centers on June 1, 2020. The ONLY details given thus far is that it will be by by appointment ONLY. I've taken so many calls about this and I really feel making players hold on to their winning low tier prize money was a horrible injustice. This was equivalent to hitting a slot machine and the machine giving you a message to collect when they want to pay!

Guess your calls worked. I know some of you made calls - I just don't know how many calls all total.

An educated prediction ... When players are able to collect their winnings .... sales will SOAR again!

Next, the player I told you about on May 9th who made a claim in Feb but was sent away with no inkling of what was to come ... well, he miraculously received a $5 check earlier this week. With the banner I posted last week giving notice that I had a story coming was a dead giveaway that I'd be reporting the player received NOTHING. It appears to me that the TLC jumped out of their a-- to get him paid.

Can you imagine? You go to a claim center in Feb 2020 with what you think is a winning ticket and it takes until May 12 to get closure of any kind. If this was the private sector - the AG would come down big time on the firm.

Ya'll are asking about Mega Million and Powerball sales that I generally have posted by now. Seems like with all of our talk about the soaring sales during a pandemic, more of you are watching closely - not to mention - the media attention this issue is getting.

Anyway ... back to WHY I'm not current on sales ... the TLC adopted a new rule last Sept/Oct that allows them to charge for open records requests that exceeds so much staff time per year. We all knew this was directed at me because I make requests every week so I can keep ya'll in the know - so to speak. At the time they wrote this rule - I was working on the "Perks of a Lottery Director" story and was making a huge number of requests that they didn't like. My story is still not completed - however - I am getting ready to post two more sections in the very near future. Point to all this, I haven't received the information to post and the same thing applies to the scratch tickets data that I calculate and watch.

I hope to have a letter off tomorrow to the TLC to clarify a couple of things regarding their "charges." This would include questions about unrealistic methods of payment and Government Code 552,267 that reads ...

Having shown you Code 552.267, a paragraph in the the TLC's RULE §403.101 Open Records reads ...
"(b) The agency may furnish public records without charge or at a reduced charge if the agency
determines that waiver or reduction of the fees is in the public interest."

Because the TLC is electing to charge me indicates one of two things ... they either don't think it is in YOUR best interest to be able to access the information OR they have changed their mind again about my being a member of the press! I surmise they will claim it is NOT in the "public interest" and IF they do, ya'll better speak up because this will be the making of ceasing Open Government.

I'll bring my pages current as soon as I'm able to obtain the info.

Finally , sales are STILL soaring. I've added - to my charts shown below - sales for the week of 5/9/20 so you can see the latest. Just scroll down or click here.

More later.

5/9/20 - This posting is in response to your many questions and problems reported to me recently ... ie ... the claim centers, unexpected deductions from your lottery claims (winnings) & a warning about those scratch ticket vending machines. Then, I'm going to share a little bit of incredible news like ... WHY the nurses and doctors have limited or NO masks and gowns (PPE) and the phenomenal record breaking scratch tickets sales at a time like this.

I'm going to start with the masks/ PPE - Covid-19 - which has us all in turmoil -
Or maybe I should say MAD because it was allowed to get this bad. Our government failed to protect us and they've especially failed to protect our doctors and nurses. I get angrier every day with what I learn about each failure by not only the administration in Washington but in the state of TX as well.

You can relax ... I'm not going to share my thoughts about the horrific situation our country is in. Rather I want to share WHY there's a shortage of masks and PPE (personal protective equipment). I found it extremely disturbing and I believe everyone should be privy to this information.

It was Dave Lieber, Watchdog at the Dallas Morning News, who investigated and reported his findings regarding the shortages. Click here to read his story.

Of the many educational facts I learned was that ONLY ONE private sector company - Vizient - located in Las Colinas (Irving TX) - controls most PPE purchases for the vast majority of the hospitals and health care facilities in the U.S. They have no few competitors because they are sooooo big. (Correction: Vizient does have two competitors - but they are small in comparison)

Dave's story is mindboggling - For many years, Vizient has depended on and bought PPE from China and India. So when the U.S. was in dire need, Vizient couldn't get them because China needed these products for themselves. Our elected officials in Washington were well aware of this tidbit but has ignored it.

An interesting tidbit exposed in Dave's story - kickbacks are legal. Much like the government allows lotteries to disregard Advertising Consumer Laws which is also WRONG.

Imagine, U.S. doctors and nurses were told to go to "war" with NO equipment to defend themselves. I could go on but I won't. I'll shut up but I sincerely hope you will all go read Dave Lieber's story then call your elected officials - stop the kickbacks and get our ESSENTIAL supplies manufactured here in the US.

I want to extend my gratitude to Dave for his investigative reporting - he uncovered the truth and explained it in an easy to understand language. I applaud that.

Claim Centers closed ... You can NOT collect your winnings to get your "instant gratification"
So many of you have called and I'm on your side .... This is just downright WRONG. They continue selling lottery tickets but won't pay your winnings if the amount is greater than $599. Of course, you CAN mail your claim BUT they take no responsibility for lost tickets. Hmm ...

I asked the TLC yesterday when they planned to open their claim centers but like another subject regarding "deductions" from your prize winnings - they have not replied.

I have several comments about the claim centers ... first and foremost, with the exception of the Austin claim center, very few people work in the Claim Centers so there is really no legitimate reason to keep them closed. TLC staff can practice social distancing and players can be kept at a distance. Keeping limitations on how many can enter their office at one time, they COULD be open and paying your winnings. When you call your elected officials, ask them about this issue as well, especially since they are "re-opening" the rest of the state.

But wait a minute .... maybe they are purposely not wanting to pay you ... an ulterior motive. Do you think???? Is this possible????

Are there going to be "unexpected deductions" from your prize winnings .... WHOA ... what does that mean???
On March 26, 2020, I asked the TLC .... " ... does the TLC still recover unemployment monies a person may have received if they win something and go to a claim center to collect? Also, will the upcoming stimulus checks be recovered too by the state if someone wins something?"

No answer.

On April 20, 2020, I asked, "People are receiving unemployment and stimulus checks now. I still want to know, IF they win something substantial playing the lottery where they collect from a claim center, and IF they've received either an unemployment check or a stimulus check, will the TLC deduct the amount paid in unemployment or the stimulus check from the players winnings????"

No answer.

On April 23, 2020, I said, "I still need an answer to my question from March 26th and April 20. If ya'll can't or won't respond to my legitimate question, then please refer me to someone who can answer the question. Players have a right to know that if they win, they will be reimbursing the state for unemployment and the stimulus money from their winnings - IF that is the case."

As I write this story on May 8, 2020, they have not responded to my question. By reason of deduction, I think they may have something to hide. So, ya'll might need to know that if you win - you may not see anything! If you received a Stimulus check or unemployment, they may deduct the amount you received from your winnings. Since they won't respond, that's about the only thing I can conclude.

I will say - with regards to the Stimulus checks, they DEFINITELY will deduct Child Support from your winnings. But after you pay it unexpectantly, you should confirm that your ex received the money - after all - who can trust our government now? And I will add, you really should pay your child support before buying lottery tickets. (Sorry)

Anyway, MAYBE this is why they don't want to open the Claim Centers just yet. They want to be sure to deduct all monies paid to you so it would be in their best interest to keep Claim Centers closed. Know what I mean????

Interesting isn't it ... they want the citizens to go back to work in unsafe environments, but the state is protecting it's employees. This is called "two-faced." And YES, I'm plenty mad and I know it's showing in my writing. Or maybe I should say I'm disappointed to learn what I've learned about our elected officials.

BEWARE - If you purchase scratch tickets from the vending machines ...
This issue is horrendous. In February, I received a call from a player who had bought a scratch ticket from a vending machine. The face value of the ticket indicated that he'd won $5,525. He then folded his ticket in half but suddenly the ticket breaks in half. He has two halves of a ticket now. Hmmm he thought. (Me too!)

Anyway, he goes to the claim center and fills out a claim form and submits his "two halves." They take one look then they tell him they'll have to "investigate" and will get back to him after forensics does their thing. After not hearing from anyone, the player called to inquire and was told verbally that his ticket was not a winner and that they would send him a new ticket. Which as of this writing, he still has not received. At any rate ....

He contacted an attorney who in turn referred him to me. After hearing his story and getting answers to all my questions, I explained what I would need to do and that I would get back to him

I made an open records request and obtained copies of his ticket and claim form. When I received documents responsive, I immediately knew what had happened. The vending machine was cutting that pack of tickets incorrectly meaning that every ticket bought on that game was - most likely - defective. Players were receiving the top half of one ticket and the bottom half of the next ticket in the pack. It was obvious to me and confirmed when he said, "I folded my ticket and it immediately broke in half." Logically, that's where the perforation was is what I surmised.

I then took it upon myself to investigate further where I learned from other retailers that this issue occurs and has for many years. It happened more often in the older machines and less often with the new machines because the new machines are "automated" in their programming when loading new packs of tickets. Previously, a store employee who loaded tickets would need to punch in the size, cost, ticket number etc but is not necessary now UNLESS they remove or adjust a pack of tickets. In which case they have to program all parameters.

Now here's where there's a serious problem ....
When this player arrived at the claim center, staff may not have told him what they really "suspected" on sight, but they should have immediately contacted IGT-G-Tech. What they saw was an indication that required a rep to go to the store or at least call the store FAST to check that pack of tickets. It was also an indication that training was needed on how to load the tickets properly. I suspect this did not happen. The reason is that I've learned that 4 other tickets from that same machine are STILL cutting tickets incorrectly. None in "half," but customers are complaining and as recently as just two weeks ago.

Earlier this week, I visited with the General Manager where the machine is STILL malfunctioning. I learned fast that the General Manager either knows nothing about the lottery or immediately got defensive because he told me that his staff has nothing to do with the lottery vending machine - rather - he said - the lottery rents the space from him and a lottery rep comes once a week to service the machine. WOW - I said to myself!!!!!! In response, I asked, "did you know ya'll are responsible for pulling closed games from the machine?" He said, "No, I don't know anything about that either." Hmmm ....

I decided it would be best for me to speak to others who have contact with the customers directly. I also spent time in the store this past week talking to lottery customers where I learned they've purchased tickets with bar codes cut off and tickets missing small sections of a ticket.

In conclusion, I determined that the "one" person who loads the tickets in the vending machine at that location needs training. I was not ever able to catch her in person to discuss the situation but I'm not certain that she would listen to me anyway due to an earlier incident in this store. This was the store where a IGT-G-Tech rep told her to NEVER listen to me! I did file a complaint with the TLC but nothing ever came of it. Imagine that!

Attention TLC - you know who this store is and I urge you to send someone out there to show the Service Manager how to load games in that machine. Most likely, this has been going on for a least two years. Be sure to explain to her what she has to do when she tries to load a partial pack too. OK????

I'll be watching.

Attention Players - Check the tickets you buy to make certain they are cut correctly. At the bottom of each scratch ticket - on the play side - is a ticket number then on the back of the ticket on top, you will see the ticket number again. Make sure they match.

In the middle of a pandemic and with the highest unemployment since the Great Depression, TX scratch ticket sales are SOARING ... Scratch ticket sales are the highest since the lottery began .... Unbelievable ...

Let me show you how lottery sales have done since the stimulus checks went out. As you review these figures, keep in mind that every year, when people get their tax refund checks, scratch ticket sales spike. It appears the same applies now with receipt of the Stimulus Checks.

Scratch Tickets - Weekly Sales
(Cells marked in Yellow shows the 1st,
2nd and 3rd highest weekly sales EVER
in the HISTORY of the TLC)

Total Weekly Sales
DRAW Games and Scratch Tickets Combined

To bring in $6 billion per year, lottery sales need to
average $500 million per month. Looks like
Texas will meet their goal without fail!

Since the Stimulus Checks were disbursed, let's
compare 2020 Total Weekly Sales to 2019.
Director Gary Grief was quoted describing
how sales were down due to the virus and he
was comparing 2020 to 2019 for a few
weeks. I'll bet he's a happy camper now!
(Below are links to recent stories where hs
is quoted complaining that lottery sales
are down.)

WOW ... can you believe this ...
And to think, whoever might win something
can't even collect their winnings because
the Claim Centers are closed. Winners should
be able to make an appointment to collect.

I'd suggest you call your elected official about this too.
I'd also suggest that you try calling the TLC for an
appointment to collect your $600 + winnings
at your local claim center.

Very interesting news stories that have
appeared recently. Director Grief Quoted ...

Gambling As An Essential Business ....
by Ken Herman, Austin American Statesman, Click here

Lottery Sales Surging ...
by Eric Dexheimer - Houston Chronicle - click here

The shortage of medical supplies
by Dave Lieber, Dallas Morning News - Click here

The many investigative stories of Dave Lieber -
Watchdog, Dallas Morning News, Click here

This is it for today. Sorry my story is so long but it was important with several subjects!.

04/16/20 - Just a note to let ya'll know that I've been doing stories on individual pages rather than posting them all on my Hodgepodge page. I have placed links to those stories either on the left or above on this page so in a sense, it has been kept current.

As of this date, we are in the midst of a very serious pandemic and 96% of the United States is under a stay at home order. Because of the Corona Virus (Covid 19), we are only allowed to leave home to go to work - if we are an essential business - or to buy groceries and meds.

Last week I posted a story about the need to suspend sales of all lottery products as it's really too dangerous for players to go out for the sole purpose of buying lottery tickets. Which IS being done on a daily basis by millions in spite of the very contagious virus.

Literally millions are unemployed now and are spending their discretionary money on lottery and eight liners rather than supporting those businesses that NEEDS support. This just seems so wrong to me. Buying a lottery ticket is not an "essential" purchase.

I find it of great interest that state leaders forced "non-essential" businesses to shut down but the state continues to sell their NON-ESSENTIAL lottery products. Why do they not HAVE to follow their own rules? Do they not care that over a million people leave home each day for the sole purpose of purchasing lottery tickets? Do they not care to calculate just how many people are being put at risk due to Covid-19?

The truth is, all our elected officials have ever cared about is the money a lottery brings in and they could care less that much of it comes from people who can least afford to play. Nor do they appear to care about the employees of lottery vendors (IGT/G-Tech) who are putting their lives at risk by running convenience stores. And getting a pay cut at that!!!

State officials are foolish enough to actually believe scratch ticket sales increase every year because the tickets are so popular. I wonder what they would think if they found out the reason scratch ticket sales increase each year is due 100% to low tier prize money being returned as it's won. Each year, the Texas Lottery increases the number of low tier prizes guaranteeing an increase in sales. You see, most players give back his winnings in an attempt to win BIG.

I wonder why our elected officials have failed to ask why there's hundreds of million of dollars in unclaimed prizes? Seems as though they just take the money but ask no questions. They should be asking if: 1) there really was the number of winners reported and 2) what was wrong with XYZ scratch ticket that had an unusually high number of unclaimed prizes. Very sad - money is the only thing they care about. Yet they were elected to represent the People and do what's in the best interest of their constituents.

Anyway, let's get back on track with today's news ... Covid-19 and sale of lottery products.

I called Governor Abbott, Senator Hall, Senator Cruz, Senator Cornyn, State Representative Neave & Dallas County. So far, only one has replied to my inquiry - why lottery sales have not been suspended - and that was Dallas County. The short response was ... "Dawn, good evening. Thank you for reaching out. The Texas Lottery Commission oversees the Texas Lottery and Dallas County has no jurisdiction in this matter." I did disagree with the "County" not having any jurisdiction - they have the jurisdiction to tell retailers what they can and cannot sell in their county.

Today, there's a huge story in The Intercept, a National Political publicaton, about state leaders deeming lottery products as "essential" products in spite of the fact that many retailers and lottery employees are objecting. You should all go read it. You might want to check out the rest of the publication too!

I know my readers are lottery players and you are probably objecting to my call for suspending lottery sales. For that I'm sorry. But this is truly a life or death issue. Life is short, shorter than you think. The virus is temporary - it will pass and life will go on. If you are still here, that is.

More later.