The Lotto Matrix: Oregon Lottery Loses Major Retailer, Broken Game Leads To Big Win, More

Welcome to this week’s “Lotto Matrix,” a weekly Friday compilation of the lottery industry’s most significant, interesting, or absurd happenings.

All out of pie

Oregon’s well-known Shari’s Café and Pies has unexpectedly closed all locations statewide, leaving patrons without a decades-long mainstay — and the Oregon Lottery with an outstanding debt. The chain, headquartered in Beaverton, was a longtime lottery retailer and brought in substantial revenue through its video lottery machines. Between June 2023 and June 2024, Shari’s generated more than $34 million in revenue for the Oregon Lottery, earning nearly $7.5 million in commission.

However, according to the Oregon Lottery, Shari’s failed to make its most recent payments due to insufficient funds, as reported on Oct. 16. After this default, the chain couldn’t provide a required bond, leaving the Oregon Lottery owed a balance of over $902,000.

Oregon Lottery spokesperson Melanie Mesaros stated that if Shari’s doesn’t settle this debt, the matter will go to collections. The Lottery has already begun the process of retrieving all video lottery terminals from Shari’s locations across Oregon.

Mike Wells, Oregon Lottery’s director, shared that while Shari’s had been an Oregon institution and a valued partner, the chain’s recent financial troubles led to an unsustainable partnership. Describing the closure as “uncharted territory,” Wells expressed his regret over the situation but emphasized that it was the right decision for the state.

Glitch makes a millionaire

A simple grocery run in Illinois recently transformed into a life-changing moment for a lottery player who left with much more than just his shopping bags.

This anonymous winner decided on a whim to purchase a lottery ticket. But the ticket machine wasn’t cooperative — it wouldn’t let him choose his intended game. Frustrated but undeterred, he settled for a ticket for a different game instead, simply called Lotto

The unexpected switch proved to be fate’s doing, as the ticket matched all six numbers in the Aug. 24 drawing, awarding him a $9.2 million prize. “It was just supposed to be a regular day,” he told Illinois Lottery officials.

It was the second-largest Lotto jackpot of the year in Illinois.

Mayhem in Mass

Massachusetts Treasurer Deborah Goldberg is facing scrutiny following claims that she instructed a former Massachusetts Lottery official to delete text messages, a directive that raises questions about the handling of public records.

Local media outlet WBUR explained that the information surfaced during a legal inquiry into the dismissal of Shannon O’Brien, former chair of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission. Edward Farley, a former marketing chief for the Massachusetts Lottery and longtime associate of Goldberg, testified that Goldberg had asked him to delete text exchanges, including discussions about O’Brien’s hiring, performance, and eventual dismissal.

Public records advocates voiced concern about these alleged deletions, especially given Goldberg’s role as a state official. Justin Silverman, executive director of the New England First Amendment Coalition, emphasized that text messages among state employees generally fall under public records laws and should be preserved when they pertain to government operations.

Silverman highlighted that substantial conversations over text — like those between Goldberg and Farley about O’Brien’s professional conduct — can offer valuable insight into the workings of state agencies and should be accessible to the public.

While Farley stated he’s open to a forensic review of his phone to retrieve any relevant messages, Goldberg’s request for deletion has sparked a debate over transparency and record-keeping protocols among state officials.

Election and rejection

Elon Musk’s latest stunt — offering to hand out $1 million paydays in a lottery draw for those who register to vote — has turned heads, but not in a good way.

Musk allegedly paid out two of the prizes, several media outlets have reported, but may have decided to back off following the backlash and the threat of a federal investigation. This tweet from former White House lawyer Ian Bassin encapsulates at least one side of the political fence’s view:

Best of the rest

The story behind the story: Why lottery games are so difficult to regulate

No laughing matter: Virginia man jokes about winning lottery minutes before $1M jackpot

‘Tis the season: Maryland Lottery announces holiday gambling games

It’s raining cash in Florida: Alabama man strikes gold with $2 million Florida Lottery scratch-off win

It’s still raining cash in Florida: Florida woman wins $2 million Monopoly scratch-off prize

Check the prize box and see you next week!