My sincere appreciation for such a complimentary message. Generally I don't post this kind of message but because the player sent it to Commissioner Clowe, I will post it for all to read. Also, since I'm writing, let me take a second to thank all of you who have written recently and thanked me for my work and my web site. I've copied and pasted the below message and I have not edited it in any way. Enjoy ...

To: Dawn Nettles <lottoreport@lottoreport.com >
CC: "C. Thomas Clowe" <customerservice@lottery.state.tx.us>
Subject: Excellent

This message is sent to Dawn for posting. It is not addressed to her, but rather about her.

To all those people like me who obtain factual information from Dawn & the Lotto Report, because all we get from the TLC are lies, false statistics, and their resentment of our limiting the reach of their hands into our wallets; take heart!

The TLC has posted their Jan. 2003 meeting minutes. The first part is discussion of the 88 ball plan. In the second part they discuss changes in their relationship with GTECH, before they postpone to executive session - because they don't want Commissioner discussion in an open meeting - yes they said that!

They then babble about Bingo contracts, etc.; Bingo incidentally is headed the same way of Lotto - that is toward developing games of enticement, even though both Bingo & Lotto are forbidden enticing advertising.

Towards the end is the very good part. Our hero, Mrs. Nettles stood right there & told the commissioners, to their face, that they had not done their jobs regarding us poor consumers. Please take the time to read it - brave - bold - absolutely true. http://www.txlottery.org/legal/docs/tlc030131.txt

The facts are crystal clear: (a) They reduced the payout on the scratch games by about 10% in 1997, their sales had fallen about 17% and were still dropping; when they reinstated the higher payout 2 years later. (b) The 6/54 Lotto Texas is a reduction in value over the 6/50 game and sales have dropped. (c) If this silly 88 ball plan is implemented, we have a right and an obligation to be as vocally against it as possible, to protect our fellow citizens. It will fail under its' own weight - we must do all in our power to prevent implementation, and if implemented; hasten the failure, by educating the public.

My personal impression is that these are the marketing tactics Enron & WorldCom used to prop up their stock sales, excepting of course that the TLC operates a monopoly, exempt from Federal Trade Commission anti-trust and truth in advertising law; and under the Sovereign Immunity of the State. Also, the 'whistle blowers' at Enron & WorldCom made the cover of Time Magazine as 'persons of the year,' whereas all we'll get is peace of mind.

Gerry
Ft. Worth

I purposely was not in Austin at 8:30 AM that morning because the agenda listed the discussion about the proposed plan as number 12. So, I thought I had time. But, they took the proposal first. The reporters jokingly said the TLC did it on purpose so I wouldn't hear the presentation. They were probably close to right! It wouldn't have mattered though, the Commissioners would have probably still proposed the rule anyway!