Texas Lottery Wants To Add More Balls!
Players Speak Up About Increasing
the Odds of Winning & Joining Multi-State Games
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Posted Two New Messages - 12-06-02 Let's make this simple for them, 4 little words: BOYCOTT - PICKET - LITIGATION - LETTERS Subject: proposed changes A philisophy the TLC needs to recognize and adapt ... the more players win, the more players spend. The less players win, the less players spend. Just look at pick3 sales the drawing after a big payout. Janie, San Antonio Posted Three New Messages - 12-05-02 The next Commissioners meeting will be Dec 13, 2002 at Lottery Headquarters (Austin - 8:30 AM). All you have to do is attend this meeting and then you can address the Commissioners personally. Hope to see you there. You can also call the Commissioners. Their phone numbers can be obtained by clicking here. While you're at it, call the "Big Three" that are listed and your state rep too! To: lottoreport@lottoreport.com How about if we post signs at participating retailers about how the TLC operates and the lotto changes that may be coming? (Great idea) Can we find out which retailers sell the most tickets and target them? (Yes) I will do anything in the Houston and surrounding area that needs to be done. I have several retailers that I see on a daily basis and they will let me put a sign on their machines telling the truth. I was thinking about printing up signs that say, "Save your dollar, if you haven't won yet, you're not going to win with the new game either!" Then put on the bottom "Go to www.lottoreport.com for more details" I want to keep it plain, short, and simple. There are so many things that we can do, all we need to do is take action before they make the changes. If we can slow down the dollars going into the TLC, I am sure that they will get the message. If we can make players understand that if they keep their money this month, maybe by next month their odds will be better at actually winning. Well I'm here for you. Just tell me what you think can be done to get it back to 6/50 if possible. Do you really believe that they will change it back? (That's a $10 million question. Previous changes and forthcoming proposed changes clearly indicate the state doesn't care how they rob and entice us, just so they successfully take our dollars) I know of one state that retracted some balls but I forgot who it was. Also you said that sales were second lowest on 11/16/2002. I saw 4 mil+ sales for that draw and have seen right at 3 mil sales for other draws. How come the 3 mil draws aren't considered lower??? (Sales were second lowest on Nov 13, 2002 - $3,390,345 - Click here to see total sales for every draw since inception of Lotto Texas.) Thanks for all you do, Larry I do have a plan and am currently working on presenting it to ya'll. We need volunteers from every city. A number of you have already written and offered your assistance. But, we still need more people. We also need money and this time I might be asking everybody to donate $5 or $10 apiece to help cover the cost. As a group, we can be heard. Read the next message. Subject: Player's Activisism Group Dawn: It's time we stopped being a bunch of scorned customers and legally form an activist group. What do you think Dawn? They already call you an activist, why not get a huge stack of signatures relating to some basic goals to stand on the players' manifesto, rather than in response to TLC decisions. They wander blindly in the dark & then blame us when they bump their noses? Besides that, I've learned it's much more fun and less costly to beat up on the TLC than to blindly go where they lead us. I would like to ask the public to respond on this --- We are all here to get real insight and facts, rather than the press releases from the TLC web site. Let us unite & either conquer, or if all else fails, vote them out before more harm is done!!! ge How 'bout it folks. Come forward and let's unite. Email me.
Posted 11-26-02 Subject: Snake Hunting Time I ask that we all prepare ourselves for a massive snake hunt as soon as the Lottery Commission meeting minutes for November are posted. I.E. If it slithers, squirms, and is venomous to the people of Texas; it must have either TLC or GTECH written on its' slimy little belly. (a) Rally around Lotto Texas: This is the game that the TLC's own studies show has the broadest appeal to everyone, and is the best focal point. (a1) They told us in 1999 they wanted to increase the odds, and implement a 'bonus ball' system. They used innocent eyed lies when public appeal was against it, such as they thought a 'bonus ball' system added value for the players by giving them "more ways to win". Everyone who has routinely purchased and checked on-line game tickets knows this is false - the payout remains the same, more ways to win means harder to check and more money in the unclaimed prize fund for the state. (a2) Bowing to public pressure they kept the 6/50 matrix a few more months and when they presented the current 6/54 matrix, Keith Elkins stated they would implement it no matter what public opinion was. As you have stated, and forced the TLC to state in committee; they originated at the TLC [while at the same time stating they don't influence public opinion], a survey that GTECH delivered and picked up [on behalf of a small retailer organization as cover] showing retailer support. (a3) We have the customer dollars - they can either remove 4 balls from the ball sets they now use & reinstate the 6/50 game, or lie in the bed they made and develop interest in the 6/54 matrix. We should accept no other options. Multistate game = NO, Lotto Ludicrous [higher odds Lotto Texas] = NO. If the odds are raised again Lotto Texas, sales will fall farther which further inflames. (b) The people reading this will be lottery fans. As players who contribute to the lottery; we know the danger of encouraging habitual play. Even while under Sunset Review, the TLC was developing a 5 year business plan; and they have the corresponding 2003-2007 strategic plan posted, based on activities that are not currently legal. Since they repeatedly state they are not allowed to influence legislation, I'm sure they have some legal definition of how paying state employees to develop forecasts based on repeal of restrictions is not influencing the repeal of those restrictions. (b1) Steps toward habitual play thus far are: Pick 3 twice daily, Cash 5 six days per week, Extremely high odds [high jackpot if we were stupid enough to have purchased to their projections] Lotto Texas. (b2) Obviously all questions don't make it to 'Ask the Director' on the TLC web site. A lot of silly ones are trotted out more than once as filler, and some are obviously used as a 'sounding board' and even attempts to sway public opinion. During the recent attempt to unload the 6/54 matrix decision by joining a multistate game, Linda Cloud put in one of these columns that: She was not allowed to suggest changes to legislature, but in her opinion Texas should join a multistate game, and gave the contact information of Representative Puente [who had proposed such a change in 1998]. In this week's column [11-25-02], Gary Grief does the same mentioning that allowing the TLC to operate Keno in conjunction with on premises liquor consumption will be reviewed by the legislature in 2003. They also want to operate 'video lottery' - the "addictive 8-liners" they have had confiscated from convenience stores, as well as video poker, etc. for real money. Friends and fellow lottery players, let's be honest - the TLC and GTECH talk about the future being games with "instant gratification"; we can understand this quite easily: video lottery + Keno + alcohol = State run Casino. This ties into a self destructive odds increase to Lotto Texas as: Lotto decline + state budget shortfall = very hard push for these life destroying [other state's experience] practices. (c) Miscellaneous: After forcing the 6/54 Lotto matrix on us in 2000, they immediately followed with the first $10 Scratch ticket [Jingle Bucks in Nov. 2000]. Almost 2 years to the day later, they introduce the first $20 Scratch ticket. The reason is obvious - once that $20 has left the player's hand, it ain't coming back - go home, be remorseful, and have beans and crackers for supper; but the TLC is happy, because they have your money. (d) Now obviously I'm not anti lottery. I'm very pro lottery. But it must maintain our interest by making us feel good about where the proceeds go. It will and can never be anything but a loss for the typical player, therefore it must remain a 'take it or leave it program'. These attempts to encourage habitual play must stop, or we must repeal the Lottery Enabling Act. It also must not cost more than $1 to $2 to play [maybe an occasional $5 promotional Scratch ticket]. (e) When the GTECH contract was renewed in 2001, the clause that no GTECH employee or representative could contribute to any legislator directly or indirectly was removed, after it had been part of the contract for 9 years. This was 9 years in which Guy Snowden [cofounder of GTECH] resigned, after a British jury found him guilty of bribery. Also, GTECH had paid the [friend & boyfriend both used by the press] of the first TLC Director $30,000 over a 5 month period; without having any statements about his function, other than he represented them in New Mexico. This [friend/boyfriend] was later imprisoned for an unrelated bribery conviction. The TLC fired this Director, claiming influence by GTECH. Removal [immediate reinstatement after public outcry] of the 'no contribute' clause in view of this history, can only suggest strong influence by GTECH. GTECH has a vested interest in escalating the TLC's activities: The more complex the activities, the more products and services they sell, and the more secure they are from losing the contract at the next bidding. There was a statement of satisfaction from the TLC at last contract renewal, that a significant cost reduction had been negotiated with GTECH for a 9 year contract. Well our neighbors New Mexico and Louisiana also negotiated similar reductions at about the same time - for much shorter contracts. In reading the TLC March 14, 2000 meeting minutes, I noticed that the 6/54 matrix was presented by both the U.S. and World Wide Marketing directors of GTECH. They advised Texas must make the change as they were fighting a "war along the borders" with New Mexico and Louisiana - at the very moment he said that to Texas, GTECH was operating the New Mexico and Louisiana lotteries. Any statement or suggestion from GTECH, should be considered for exactly what it is - purely self serving of GTECH interests. I apologize for the length of this correspondence - we have been beaten before - we can not be beaten again, or the general social health of Texas will suffer; and the games we have played in the past will be 'remade' into ones we are ashamed of. Gerry E. Posted 11-23-02 I am from San Antonio, a significant lottery player, and feel that the Texas Lottery is in serious trouble. 1. Integrity and fairness of the games 2. Odds that will give the players a chance at getting some of their $ back if they win 3. Get rid of the 4 extra balls that were put in 4. Drop the second drawing that was put in the pick 3. 5. Reduce the numbers of draws that cash 5 has. 6. Throw Two Step to the curb. 7. Adjust the minor winner payout to where a player feels like he really has won something A weekly Texas Lottery looks like - 1. 12 Pick 3 draws 2. 6 Cash five draws 3. 2 Two Step draws 4. 2 Texas Lotto Draws 5. I have no idea how many scratch off games there is, but it is a lot. 22 chances a week to loose their money. Serious players can't even keep up with all those numbers, let alone be able to select some to play. I can tell you the people that used to buy lottery tickets are fed up with the odds, payout, integrity of the games, and the number of balls/draws they have to deal with. The people that are still playing are cutting down on what they spend because they feel the odds are too great to win and do not have a warm fuzzy that they are getting a fair shake. If you doubt these observations, go to www.lottoreport.com and just read some of the negative comments that have been sent in. At this point there is very little that players can feel good about the way the Texas Lottery is being run. I understand that this would be your way to get more $ for the state, but I don't think so. I fail to see how you could think that this would be a GOOD deal for the people that you represent. I think you should reconsider what would be better for texas and the PLAYERS. After all, we are the ones that will make or break what happens with the changes. I think if this happens you could expect - 1. Most, if not all the current games to die or be significantly reduced in play. 2. Significant amounts of players to quit completely. 3. Large numbers of current players to spend their "game of chance" $ somewhere other than the lottery. I don't think we need any more problems introduced. I think we need to fix the ones associated with the lottery now and regain the integrity and fairness that I think is gone. Jim E To contact Representative Punte To: lottoreport@lottoreport.com I am volunteering. Let me know what I can do in the San Antonio area. Steve R. I need volunteers to help us stop the TLC from making Subject: 1-800-TLC-GREED! Due to the constant effort of the TLC to search out ways to lower our odds of winning - (I can just see them all huddled in a little room plotting and planning against us - interspersed with an occasional cackle when a truly evil idea is introduced!) - I am wondering if there is a 'hotline' for TLC Greed Addiction! When Texas Lotto was first introduced, it was a lot of fun and I actually won once in a while. Not long ago the TLC added 4 numbers to make our odds of winning almost impossible; now they want to add even more. This is no longer a game. This is pure greed on the part of the TLC! The people of Texas voted to allow the lottery because they thought it would be fun for the individual while contributing a part of their lottery dollars to education. I am sure, had they known how we would be manipulated by this handful of people (the TLC), it would have been soundly defeated! Instead of adding MORE numbers, ask the people of Texas to vote again!! This time, REDUCING the number back to the original 6/50 numbers. After getting established and conning the people of Texas into voting the lottery in, suddenly they change the rules to suit themselves!! It has gotten to the point that only the wealthy have a chance to win - they can afford to buy thousands of dollars worth of tickets at one time; the majority of us cannot do this! So much for fair play! Sincerely, A Former Texas Lotto Fan Subject: Multi State Lottery Representative Puente: (a) The Texas Lottery Commission has done several studies in the past, the most optimistic estimate I am aware of was in 1998, with a projected 1% increase in sales. (b) The routine or regular players of the existing high stakes game [Lotto Texas] will be universally against it. These patrons are not to be confused with occasional players, who might make the comment that "PowerBall" tm style games are more exciting. We are opposed to the concept as a game (b1) The odds are outrageous and sales are low [as witnessed on all multistate game internet sites, by the increment of increase when there is no winner] (b2) The Bonus Ball style game serves only one purpose, which is to increase the complexity of determining if the player has won one of the lower prizes, thus increasing the amount of unclaimed prize money returned to the state. (c) We are opposed to it for moral reasons, in that extremely high odds games only exist to generate the occasional extremely high 'jackpot' level; which we see as discrimination against the poor. (d) We see the latest reversal in opinion of the Texas Lottery Commission for what it is: (d1) The TLC increased the odds of Lotto Texas 2 years ago by 60%, claiming increased sales and revenue for the state; which did not materialize. (d2) Earlier this year, public mention was made by TLC officials of increasing the odds still further; without mention of a multistate option. (d3) Entry into a multistate game became a focal point of TLC monthly meetings, and statements by officials; with no mention of any other option than "something must be done with Lotto Texas". (d summation) It is obvious the TLC is trying to 'bail out' of its' earlier decision to change from 6 of 50 to 6 of 54, as the game matrix of Lotto Texas. There will be a grass roots effort, which has already begun [I refer you to the Lotto Report web site] to educate routine players, who account for most Texas Lottery revenue. This will lead to a further downturn in sales, which is ill affordable with Texas facing a budget shortfall at this time. Thank you for considering these opinions. Gerry E. A really cute message ... DEAR LOTTERY COMMISSIONERS: There is an additional source of income or a money supply that the lottery has completely over looked or ignored. There are people that have MONEY on Sunday that they didn't have on Saturday. (The few people that won on Saturday night.) The new game could be called ‘DOUBLE YOUR WINNINGS’ and it would only be opened to the people with winnings from a previous drawing. However, this would require some changes to the present lottery system. But then again, changes are nothing new to the lottery. And as stupid as the lottery players are, they will keep right on playing regardless of the changes. They always have in the past and you'll have the same player pool. So, I'm sure they will keep right on playing. If a player thinks he has a winning ticket, he can have the retailer run his ticket for $0.05 (5¢) a non-winning play line, anytime before 9:00 PM Sunday. That would be $0.25 (25¢) for a full ticket with no winning play line. The charge would only be for the non-winning lines. A player with a winning line on a ticket would then become a contestant in that weeks ‘DOUBLE YOUR WINNINGS’ game. They then have a chance to ‘DOUBLE’ their winnings. The drawing would be held at 10:00PM Sunday evening and the winners could collect their winnings on any Monday, but only on Monday. This would address another of the retailers’ complaints. They would only have to keep the additional moneys for the lottery pay outs on Mondays. The ‘DOUBLE YOUR WINNINGS’ game would go something like this. If a player correctly selects all 5 numbers, they would win what they SHOULD have rightly won based on the pari-mutuel formula with the sales for the original drawing in which they originally won. In some cases that would almost be double what we are getting now. If a player correctly selects the 4 of 100, without the bonus ball, they would win what the lottery was going to originally pay them for the drawing in which they originally won. Who knows how that's calculated. If a player correctly selects only the bonus ball they would get half of what the lottery would have originally paid them for the drawing in which they originally won, and the state would keep 95% of the remainder. The retailer would get the other 5%. Just imagine the excitement of ‘DOUBLING’ you winnings. The "Imaginary" Commissioners Reply ... or is it? Dear Uncle Scrooge, Former and Present Lottery Players: All of this whining, bitching and belly aching isn't going to do any good. The lottery is the way WE WANT IT. Signed
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