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    • News

      News

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

      Plus, trouble in the Massachusetts Lottery and trouble with Elon Musk’s election lottery gimmick

      By Erik Gibbs

      Last updated: October 25, 2024

      2 min

      lottery matrix

      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.

      Struggling Shari’s Cafe & Pies closes Portland area locations https://t.co/0uqrdfWFov

      — The Oregonian (@Oregonian) October 21, 2024

      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.

      Partner @EJNaughton is quoted by Boston's NPR News Station @WBUR regarding allegations that Massachusetts Treasurer Deborah Goldberg asked a state employee to delete public records, potentially violating #publicrecords laws.

      In a sworn testimony, former Massachusetts Lottery… pic.twitter.com/UvgMd2rBde

      — Brown Rudnick (@BrownRudnickLLP) October 21, 2024

      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:

      There are a lot of Pennsylvanians who likely find an egotistical billionaire waltzing into their state three weeks before an election and trying to buy off voters with a scam lottery to be insulting.

      — Ian Bassin 🇺🇸 (@ianbassin) October 21, 2024

      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!

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