|
The Hodgepodge PageAll About the Texas Lottery ...Brought To You By ... Continued ..... |
||
 |
Jan 12, 2001 - I have just learned that newspapers in New York wrote a story about the odds Lotteries have been showing on their scratch off tickets and how Professor Busald's and his students convinced the TLC to finally tell the truth about the odds. A copy of the story is currently in the mail to me so when I get it, I'll post it for everyone to read. The TLC has refused for years to change their policy of calculating these odds - insisting that when a player spends a dollar to purchase a ticket, but he gets a dollar back, they consider that the player "won" and the ticket was a "winning ticket." If you haven't already read the testimony, the news accounts and reviewed the "real odds" for Texas' scratch offs, just click above on the "Table of Contents" link, then scroll down to "Scratch Off Tickets" and click away to read all about it. Perhaps this will be a turning point for all Lotteries to start telling the "whole" truth about things. This proves one thing to me - persistence pays off! Also, I remember hearing Ms. Cloud say in Commissioners meeting once that the TLC wasn't getting the press it use to receive, so ... the TLC should be pleased about this too! Jan. 11, 2001 - I've posted all the facts now for the Texas Two Step, the proposed new online game that is to replace Texas Million. It is currently in the 30 day comment period . Click here to read it. Jan. 9, 2001 - Well, on Jan 7, 2001, I goofed in reporting the total number of combinations for the new game. While the number was correct for picking 5 numbers out of 70, the experts tell me that this is not right because there are two separate events taking place. So, in chosing 4 numbers out of 35 numbers - there are 52,360 combinations - then when you add the one bonus number it increases the total combinations to 1,832,600 combinations. I'm stubborn - so I'm having a hard time making sense of this because to me, we're still picking 5 numbers out of 70 numbers to win the game. But, give me time, I'm a blonde so it'll register someday - maybe! I suppose this really means that we have to win TWO games at the same time in order to win the big prize for this ONE game. The odds for each of the 7 prizes for this game are forthcoming. By the way, I hope all of you appreciate the fact that I admit when I goof and that I print retractions. This is much more than the TLC does. They still haven't told their web site visitors that they erred on posting the Cash 5 pretest drawing results on 12-22-2000. They didn't even correct it until 1-2-01. Also, they erred on a ball set and/or machine used in Lotto Texas too and it took several weeks to get it corrected. They still didn't come out and admit it either, to find the error, you have to go look at the drawing again which people don't normally do. Can you imagine how many players have incorrect data as a result of them not making a point of telling their players they goofed? I can assure you this is not following the code of ethics of professional journalism either. Shame on them. If you want to read the rule in its entirety .... Click here. Jan. 7, 2001 - First, I apologize for not posting here for the last several weeks. Besides the holidays, the bad weather and keeping up with Don's predictions and the drawings, my daughter was in an automobile accident that shook me up. But she is fine. I have lots to report. I did a new page for Don and I re-organized his predictions. I think the page will load much faster and it's definitely less to print. Also, I finally got around to answering some of the many emails I've received. I even posted a few for you to read. Be sure and go read them - some interesting comments have come in. A link is at the top of this page. Well, I have waited to see what the TLC was going to do about alerting us players about the new game, called Texas Two Step, they are proposing. As usual, it appears they prefer we don't know anything about it as there's been no press releases issued and nothing is posted on their web site. Details of this new game was suppose to be posted on the Texas Register last week which makes it official. I think we need to oppose the plan - let's see if you agree with me. Here is a brief description of the new game that will replace Texas Million. Players pick 4 number from a pool of 35 numbers. Then players select 1 more number (a bonus number) from another group of 35 numbers. This means there are 70 balls total and 1,832,600 total combinations. They propose to play this game on Tuesdays and Fridays and they plan to charge $1 per play. The pots will roll and they will pay out 50% of sales. As you can see, this is a powerball type game which is extremely difficult to win. They plan to let us win small amounts. The theory behind this game is to let the pot grow so they can make more money by "creating excitement by having bigger jackpots." Gee, I've heard that somewhere before. This is my complaint about the plan - 70 balls is too many balls. I called the TLC and asked how many states offered games with 70 balls and they told me I had to make an open records request to obtain this infomation. Which is baloney. They know this answer in a heartbeat. Anyway, while I will have to do a little more reseach and I'm not absolutely postitive about all my findings, my preliminary findings are: California replaced it's big Lotto game with a power ball type game. There players select 5 numbers between 1-47 then they select 1 number between 1-27. This is 74 balls but it's their big game. 74 vs 70 - what does that say? Florida has a game similar to what Texas is planning but they only use 64 balls. Players chose 4 numbers between 1 -32 then they chose 1 number between 1-32. 64 balls total. As far as I can tell, New York just has their big Lotto game and a Pick 10 numbers - like a Keno game. So, my initial reaction is that the TLC is trying to come out with a game that is really difficult to win so they can make more money than they need to from this given resource. They absolutely refuse to satisfy the players with the games requested like a Pick4 and Keno. The reason is that those games don't bring in enough money. Question is, what do ya'll have to say about this. Do you want this game? Email me with your comments. Players have less than 30 days to comment about this game. How do you want me to move forward? With reference to your comments about my theory last year as to why Harriet Meirs resigned her position as one of the TLC's Commissioners, I'm very shocked that ya'll remembered what I said. Yes, I did read where President Elect Bush appointed her as assistant to the President and staff secretary. And yes, I really do think that is why she resigned as Commissioner. While the TLC can honestly report making more money on Lotto Texas sales, it is only because they made winning impossible and they are screwing the people of Texas out of their hard earned money. Everyone knows that. Lottery sales have declined on all games and the TLC excuses will be short lived. Anyway, a tarnished name is the last thing the new administration needed, especially in light of how the election went, so Ms. Miers probably made the right decision when she resigned. She is a fine lady and I am happy for her. I just wish she would have stopped the Commission from adding those 4 balls and allowing them to screw the people just so the state could make MORE money. I suppose it's tough being torn between making money and being fair about it. I'm thrilled that we had a $40 million Lotto winner last night. The winning ticket was sold in Clint. (El Paso area). The higher that jackpot grows, the more money the TLC takes away from the people in an unheathy manner. So I was happy to see a winner. I know you all noticed how slow the jackpot grew - sales aren't what they should be! And yes, I will do a page that tells the history of the drawing studio. I know you don't want to see that information buried on my site so it will get it's own page too. It's forthcoming. Enough for now - remember, email me with your comments about the new game. Dec. 16, 2000 - Just letting you know that it will cost the TLC $21,128,806.60 to pay the two winners from the Dec 6, 2000 Lotto Texas drawing. But, did you know 37.532% of sales only totals $19,878,718? (37.532% is the percentage of sales due to the 6 of 6 winners) This means the TLC will AGAIN overpay by $1,250,087.60. How 'bout that, 39.892% instead of 37.532% - wouldn't it be kinda nice if we could change the rules just whenever we felt like it - ? If you think this is wrong and you want changes, write your Representatives NOW so they can take it up while in session. It starts in January. Just tell your Representative that you support and agree with what's said here and ask them to visit this website for specifics. Dec. 13, 2000 - I posted the testimony of the San Antonio College students and the newspaper story that appeared in the San Antonio Express News for you today. Reading the testimony is interesting and educational - you can see how the Commission justifies their reasons. By reading this material you will also see what it "really" takes to get the Commission to respond to objections from players. In fact, the bottom line is, they have to be forced to make a change. "Force" is defined as using the media to expose issues or letters to legislators to get something done. Evidence of successful 'force tactics' includes the new camera's for the drawing studio, the little books the retailers now have on how to work the lotto machines and the acknowledgment to clarify the odds of winning when purchasing scratch off tickets. In so far as waiting until the next scratch off tickets are printed to correct the odds, I wonder why they don't post the correct odds of winning on their web site NOW. For those of us who have web sites, we all know this would not be a difficult task. Anyway, I'll give you links so you can go read the testimony and the newspaper story. There are links on both of these pages to the other page too. (Both of these pages are on my website.) One more thing, I have a number of emails that should have been posted but I simply have not had time to post them. On all subjects - especially Don's prediction. I even have one from Don to post - but - no - it is not a prediction for today. He is working on one though. Continued....click here to read more
|
|
Top The Lotto Report
|
||
