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Dear Ms Nettles,

I have written to you before voicing my concerns of the proposal by the Texas Lottery Comminssion to change the rules of the Texas Lottery game by adding 4 numbers to the current draw and adding a bonus number in addition to the 4 additional numbers.

If the Texas Lottery Commisssion wants to increase the revenue to the state of Texas through Lottery ticket sales I suggest the following:

1. Eliminate the Texas Millions game.
2. Keep the Cash 5 game intact with one change: Roll over the pot if no one wins.
3. Start a new Pick 4 game with numbers 0 thru 9 in all 4 selections with a top payout of $2000, $500 with 3 of 4 and that is it.
4. Start a mid-day Pick3 game, same pay offs as the evening Pick 3.
5. Keep the current Lotto Texas game as is execept raise the initial jackpot to 6 million dollars with 5 million dollar rollover increases, with a maximum payout of the monies collected if not reached by the monies collected to pay the winner(s), eg if monies collected from a second rollover only equals a payout of $10M then pay $10M instead of the $11M that is anticipated from the sales....

Ms. Nettles, these thoughts are mine and mine only. I firmly believe the Texas Lottery and all games that are played could provide happy players and additional revenues to the state coffers .... if only the state wouldn't want their share all at once .....

Hey, let's have fun ..... Let us try to beat you, knowng full well the odds are in your favor, not ours! But that doesn't mean we won't continue to play the Lottery games, we will .... but don't think we will put up with the shenanigans you are trying to pull .....

Sincerely,

Woody B.
An Oklahoma Texas Lottery Player

Texas Lottery Commission
ATTN.: Mr. Keith Elkins, Communications Director

Mr. Elkins,

I have just read the letter you sent to Dawn Nettles concerning the proposed changes to Lotto. While there were some mistakes in her letter which you pointed out, I still feel that her major points are valid.

I have previously written about the changes. I am opposed to any changes to Lotto. Since I play for the purpose, and solely for the purpose, of winning the jackpot, the proposed changes which make winning harder will deter me from playing.

I am a gambler. I enjoy an occasional trip to Las Vegas, a trip to the race track, a friendly poker game, and playing Lotto. I have a finite amount of money to play with and the proposed changes will encourage me to play other games than Lotto. It is much easier for me to hit a Trifecta over which I have some control (my ability to judge the horses) than to pick 5 of 6 number or 6 of 7 numbers, and the pay outs are much the same.

Since I feel that this will encourage other players like me to stop playing the game, I suggest that the changes be junked. On Dawn's web page there are several suggestions for raising more money. While I support most of these suggestions, I must point out the obvious point that was missed. In Texas, there are a limited number of players with a limited amount of money to bet. The quickest way to expand any business, including the lottery, is to expand your customer base. I strongly recommend that the Lottery Commission start talking with the legislature about allowing retailers outside of Texas to sell Texas Lottery tickets.

We would not even have to join the multi-state power ball games. This would allow an expanded customer base, with more money than the current customer base, and this provides growth.

Please view the other letters, including my earlier message (if you have not received it by mail yet), voicing opposition to this proposal. If you would like to discuss my opinions, please feel free to contact me at the indicated address or telephone number.

Sincerely,
Stephan J. R.


Keith Elkins:

I read your response posted on Dawn's page. You suggested that the minimum jackpot might have to be lowered if 50 balls were continued. If given a choice, I'd prefer that. I would rather have a game with 50 balls and a $3MM minimum than 54 balls at a $4MM minimum (which would be a 63% lower chance than current). I want the better odds!

Also, the only reason I play the game is to hit the jackpot. With all those folks who keep telling the TLC that they play Lotto for the lower prizes, I suggest they play your wide selection of scratch-off games. Also, this seems to contradict the folks posting comments on Dawn's page who oppose the proposed change.

Unfortunately, it is perceived that the TLC has decided what to do and is merely doing a final "public comment" check as a formality. This is because all of the TLC correspondence & news releases seem to be of the tone, "Here's what we're going to do, why we have to do it, and why this is good for the players", instead of, "we'd really like to find out what the players want in terms of a Lotto game during this 30 day public comment period."

I saw some other good ideas posted on Dawn's page to support more income: 20-play or even year-play tickets. (Makes it easier to play, too).

Bottom line, if passed, and if I continue to play, I won't be too thrilled knowing each time I plop a dollar down, I'll have a 63% lower chance of winning something substantial (whether it's 3 or 4 million dollars) than I did before. I will also not care about any of the other prizes, either.

Hope this helps.

Requested No Name on Internet - (Already sent my formal letter to Ms. Kiplin)
(Thank-you for sharing this with me)

Dear Dawn,

Like millions of other Texas Lotto players, I am against the addition of 4 more balls. The increased odds are too staggering to comprehend. So my vote, as you might have guessed, is NO!!

It seems to me the only ones in favor of the change is the Lottery Commission. If there thinking is so adverse to the rest of Texas, why don't we replace them with some commissioners that think the way the rest of us do.

The only thing that could possibly be any good, in the proposed change, is increasing the matching of 3 numbers from $2.00 to a BIG $5.00. This could inspire more players to play. It seem to me, and I think to you too, that the number of players has decreased due to the small payoffs. If you want to keep the Texas Lottery going, then make good sound judgement changes, not irrational changes like the Lottery Commission has proposed.

I'll keep playing as long as the odds are at least a little in the players favor. However, if those odds widen, I'll drop the Texas Lotto like a hot potato and play lotto in some other state.

Ervin K.----Lubbock




Dear Ms. Nettles,

I feel compelled to respond to the TLC Proposal to change the Texas Lottery balls chosen from 50 to 54 with a bonus ball.

When are the Lottery Commissioners, and all politicians, going to learn that when they start their flim flam changes "for the betterment of the people" they are going to lose! As well as the people they claim they are trying to help .... and I know the good people of Texas are not going to stand idyll by if this happens.....

The TLC is trying to make up the promised or forecasted monies to the State coffers that they have been unable to produce due to lagging sales in lottery tickets, the laughable odds in scratch offs and the absolutely stupid Texas Millions......

Here, TLC members is how you produce the revenue you promised the great state of Texas.....Eliminate the Texas Millions game, Period. Continue Cash 5 with a minimum jackpot payout of $100,000....if no one picks 5 of 5, rollover the jackpot as in Texas Lotto. Watch the Cash5 tickets sell!!!! And don't run practice games!!!! My God, it's as though they don't trust us to think they are running a clean game.....Just open up the drawing to the general public...eg, Roll the machines out and pick the numbers and be done with it. The more winners you have the greater the game is going to be played! (Read more money for the state coffers)

For each dollar ticket sold, $.50 goes to the winner (or is rolled over), $.50 goes to the state of which $.15 goes to retailers and state overhead, Period....No more, No less. $.35 would go to the state education fund from each ticket sold. No exceptions, this would be the dispersment of monies from each ticket, scratch off ticket sale.

So what if we have winners and the jackpots are lower than anticipated by the TLC....the state is earning its' revenues and Texans are having fun.

And, my good friend, sure we all want to win the Texas Lotto jackpot, but we want to have fun and think that we have a chance to win it all and we can if the greed of the TLC and promises made by them to the Texas Legislature does not overcome them....

Thank you our for airing my views.

I remain sincerely yours,

Woody B.
A Texas Lottery Player in Oklahoma

Texas Lottery Commission
Attn: Kim Kiplin, General Counsel
PO Box 16630
Austin, TX 78761-6630

Dear Ms. Kiplin:

I am very much opposed to the proposed changes to Lotto Texas.

Obviously you want me to play more often so you can increase your net revenue. But how can you expect to increase my interest in the game if you decrease my odds of winning from one in 15.9 million to one in 25.8 million? That’s hardly the way to entice me to play more. And yes, I do play for the big prize. I'm not one to go out of my way to pull into a convenience store with the high hopes of winning a whopping $3.00. Well, gee, maybe I might for $5.00??? Come on. Texans are not stupid. And we don’t like it when you try to pull something over on us.

You want to increase your net revenue? Then decrease your expenses. You want to decrease you expenses? Then get rid of 75% of those stupid (and costly to print) scratch off games. And get rid of that asinine Texas Million game. Whose idea was that? Probably the same people who thought up this lamebrain seventh number scheme. I hope they’re not working for the Lottery Commission any more. If they are, get rid of them. That’ll decrease some of your expenses.

We don’t need a seventh number and we don't need four more numbers to pick from. Leave the game alone. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Nuff said.

Sincerely,

John H

Dear Sir,

Please note my opposition to increasing the ball pool in the Texas Lotto game to 54 and adding a seventh ball drawn from the remaining 48. I play this game regularly in a group office pool.

Let me be clear about this, I do not play Lotto Texas hoping to win $3, $5, $10, $25, $250, $5000, $10,000 or $100,000. I play on the premise that the odds are already so high, if one were lucky enough to hit six of six there would be a very large payout.

Until the Texas Legislature increased the odds on the scratch-off games I played them anytime the change at my local convenience store amounted to more than a dollar. I have heard this has been reversed however, I and most folks I know, have never gone back to buying these tickets. It is rare in this day an age when a gasoline purchase isn't over $20.00, or bread, eggs, and milk isn't over $5.00, change that was used for scratch-offs is now pocketed.

It seems that "killing the golden goose" is what changing these supposed improvements to the games amounts to. A game is started and the players accept the original odds as a risk they are willing to accept, subsequent change always looks like money grubbing.

Here is a novel approach, let the game payout be based on the play. Keep your percentage on payouts as they are. If the minimum starting jackpot is less than $4,000,000 so what? The precise amount is readily available I assume, as with this connected world today total ticket sales on a given day are what, a few clicks away? A comparatively low Jackpot on 1st or 2nd plays will not hurt the states take (percentage-wise) and will actually means odds of winning a larger amount of the pool are higher as less people have played. As a jackpot increases, the interest generated will increase proportionately as people feel that they are generally being treated above board as opposed to being taken advantage of. If you want to increase the states income, lower your ball count! Make winning easier. The gross sales monies generated will increase as people become aware that they actually might stand a slim chance of picking a winning combination. I think if you look at the successful businesses in the 90's you'll see the ones that offer less value for the consumers dollar generally do not fair very well, the ones run by greedy individuals unconcerned for their customers feelings usually get new managers. (Guy, THANK-YOU for all the petitions you have sent in. Keep them coming!)

Sincerely,

Guy W.
LaPorte, Tx. 77571

Subject: NO to Lotto Changes

I am opposed to any changes in Lotto Texas. I have played this game for every drawing since it started. I occasionally play Texas Million and Cash 5, but not often.

I believe that the changes would convince me to not play Lotto any more.I would no like the decreased odds of winning the jackpot and I see that the State does not want me to win this. If the state is concerned about raising the number of Lotto players, they should cut the number of competing games. I suggest doing away with the legal numbers racket (Pick 3) and lowering the number of Cash 5 drawings to two per week.

The Lottery Commission needs to realize that there is a finite amount of disposable income for me to play games with. The proposed changes would probably convince me to save my Lotto money and go to the race track more often. This is the opposite effect from desired. I believe that I am not the only gambler who would look away from Lotto if these changes are made.

I have two other questions for the Lottery Commission.

1. Why does the Lottery Commission not have an e-mail address for public comments. Since the State government has internet access, it would seem to me to be an easy thing to set up an account and collect comments through e-mail. Or is it that the commissioners really have made up their mind and do not want public comments?

2. Why is the public hearing deliberately scheduled for a weekday during the day, in only one spot in the state? This again seems like it is designed to stifle public comments and opposition to this plan. I have noticed that when the State wants public comments, they usually schedule several hearings around the state, and in the evenings when people can attend. Even in South Texas, an area notorious for corrupt politics, public hearings are not manipulated this way.

Since I cannot comment directly to the Lottery Commission, I am forwarding copies of this letter to my State Representative, Senator, and the Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Maybe one of the elected officials is interested enough in public comments to take actions on this.

Stephan R.
Kirby, TX 78219

Dawn,

I am not genuinely in favor of Lotteries. I read everything in all the papers while living in California from 1988-92, just a few years after they started.

As a Math teacher I was interested in odds. Over a four year period a may have spent 300-400 dollars and found the rate of return about 1:7 on the average for scratch offs and far less for Lotto.

Several papers in the LA Basin printed numerous articles on the lottery system in California. Most of the articles I remember reading debunked the myth that the money went to education. If you can find some 1990-1991 San Gabriel News or LA Times or old LA Herald you will probably find the following information.

For every dollar 50% went to all the winners, large and small. 15% went to administration, and the remaining 35% went to "education."

Education included more than just public schools. It included several educational entities not associated with general public school curriculum, but I don't remember the details.

The Lottery commission boasted of the billions of dollars raised by the Lottery. What they didn't say was that their contribution provided only $.05, five cents, of the total budget. In 1988-89, I received some extra money for my class courtesy of the lottery. It actually added 5 cents to the dollar provided by the district.

However, the next year the Lottery commision got greedy for bigger jackpots and increased the numbers from 49 to I believe 51. The newspapers reported the change in odds, about 1:15 million to 1:25 million [I don't remember that exact odds, these are
approximatations] The fallout from this was a drastic sudden fall off in payouts. The state blamed the economy which had suddenly gone into to a "depression" with the end of the cold war and subsequent downsizing of military related industries. The TV stations however talked to many patrons who said they weren't going to play the lottery with "those kinds of odds." The jackpots did not get bigger, they actually decreased. All of this can be verified by following the jackpot histories during that 89-91 period.

On top of this, the State legislature under the leadership of Pete Wilson publicly said that since the Lottery gave schools a nickel, the State was only going to provide $.95. When the lottery jackpots failed to produce, I ended up with two cents less on the dollar because the lottery funds were not reliable sources of income for education.

I feel tinkering with the lottery odds will only backfire on the lottery commission. The reason they can't keep their numbers is people may be greedy but they are not stupid. When you buy a $1.00 ticket week after week and never win anything, you get the point. You have a better chance of winning the Publishers Clearing house millions. So, quit playing and throw your dollar somewhere else.

I didn't save may lottery file. I wish I did then you could see for yourself that lotteries are lousy, unfair forms of taxation. They should never be designated to a crucial budget item like education, etc. unless there is a safety feature in place to compensate for off years.

You have my permission to post this letter in whatever form you choose.

Rod B.
Teacher
San Antonio

Ms Dawn Nettles:

Prior to July of this year, the following info for each drawing was posted on the Texas Lotto web page (the same historical data was also available). Since then this data is not available at the Lotto's web site. I have had several e-mail contacts with the commission suggesting they continue supplying this info and all I get is the run around. I receive replies to my e-mail saying, "in a few weeks": "in a couple of weeks": "we are looking into it", etc, etc, etc. I even suggested they add one more piece of info - the total number of tickets sold for each drawing.

Do you have any thoughts as to why the commission has decided the general public should not have access to these numbers from the net? Any comments you may have would be welcome.

Norman E. P.

Drawing date:
Saturday, June 26, 1999
Winning numbers:
19 22 32 40 48 49
Estimated jackpot:
7 Million
Number of tickets matching six of six:
0 (None)
Number of tickets matching 5 of 6, and payoff:
48 $2,557
Number of tickets matching 4 of 6, and payoff:
3,524 $125
Number of tickets matching 3 of 6, and payoff:
71,221 $3

Dawn,

Here's what I sent to the TLC. Please don't repeat my name or email address, but you can quote parts of my letter as anonymous. I don't think folks really know that adding 4 balls worsens their odds by 63%! I'm glad you're being active too!!

"Dear Ms. Kiplin: I am STRONGLY opposed to the Texas Lotto Commission's proposal to increase the number of balls from 50 to 54. The proposed manipulation will reduce the chances of winning a jackpot by 63% and will nullify the true scientific randomness of the long term game. The ONLY reason I play the current Lotto game is to hit the jackpot, regardless of the monetary amount involved. I do not want the TLC to manipulate the rules to create bigger jackpots, and consequently (and significantly) lower my chances of hitting the jackpot.

I have read the TLC's responses to the concern raised over their proposal, and quite frankly, find them to be most cynical-- blaming the media for mis-reporting "the facts" and stating that people are mis-informed. The email I received from the TLC stated that the chances of winning will be reduced "slightly"-- 63% is NOT slight! I do understand the facts, and am also well-versed in statistical analysis.

With respect to the 7th ball issue, I do understand that this is not a Powerball game. Keep in mind that the TLC already offers several other pick/scratch-off games for Texans to play for better odds with less money. If the TLC wishes to increase the number of winners for the program overall, please adjust that strategy via the other pick/scratch games, and not the Lotto. People do not play Texas Lotto to win $3, $5, or even $10,000.

If implemented, I believe the Texas Lottery will loose its integrity. What will happen a few years from now? Add four more numbers if sales growth is below target? Also, I am now asking myself; "How are the Lotto commissioners and employees appointed? How are these decisions to propose changes made? What is their motivation?" I hope that the TLC and Texas legislature have the good sense to step back, re-evalute the proposal, and examine the potential impact on players and consequences regarding the political backlash, public perception, and the long-term integrity (and survivability) of the Texas Lotto game. The TLC must ask themselves, "Will this action pass the 60 Minutes or Dateline test?"

Thank you in advance for NOT going ahead with the TLC's proposal. I, like you, want to keep the Lotto game, not destroy it!" As requested, I won't post your name. Thank you so very much for sending me a copy. I think your evualuation of this situation is absolutely on target.


Dawn,

As an avid lottery player, I am siding with your efforts to try and prevent the TLC from changing the Lottery Game structure from 6/50 to 6/54. When the TLC opens their eyes they will find out that we are not as stupid as they wish we were.

I have played the lottery ever since it has been in existence in the state of Texas and I have never won more than 4 out of six numbers but I still keep playing in hopes of hitting the big one whether it's 4 million or 40 million. Changing the game structure will not make me play more, in fact, I will probably play the same amount as I've always played. What the TLC is trying to do is play on peoples greed with the expectancy of the larger jackpots.

As far as the Texas Millions game goes, I feel it is the Edsel of lottery games. I hate that game and will only play $2 per game just in case. I have printed a copy of the petition and will fax it to the people I know that play on a regular basis for their signatures. Here's to good STAND!!!!!

Larry F. Dallas, TX

 

Dear Commissioners:

Re: Proposed Amendment 16 tac Sec. 401-305.

Where is Gov Ann Richards when we need her?

Commissioners, lets just take a look at who plays these games on a regular basis? The players who keep generating revenue on a daily basis, not the people who only play when the jackpot is big. People who play these games, play to win--anything. A $3.00 a $5.00 win keeps them coming back.

The odds are bad enough already. Increasing the number of balls would only deter the everyday players and create dry spells, if chances of winning become less and less. You need to produce more winners--not fewer. The object is to win! Big wins are great and the $83,000 winners in Cash 5, keep people playing. If there are long dry stretches between winners, the people who regularly play and regularly win $500.00 like I did, will stop playing.

When the jackpot gets big, the Big boys come in from all over, even Australia. We want the chances of winning to become greater for Texans. Would this occur by adding balls? We want more people in Texas to play every day and have the opportunity to win every day--at least something. The jackpot will and has always gone up. The current method works.

If you want more money for the state of Texas, created more frequent winners in all games of the Texas Lottery. Go out and meet the people. Don't make your decisions by looking at numbers and the bottom line. Learn how the people who play create that bottom line. Then you will solve the dilemma from all angles.

You are the commissioners, create a winning lotto not a parched one. It's like priming the pump, pour a little water in, so a lot of water will come out. If you raise the number of balls, you will loose the players who prime the pump. Create more winners in all games and you will get more players! Thus, the state of Texas will generate more revenue.

DD S.

 

Subject: Re: 50 vs 54 Balls -

DAWN,

ARE YOU REALLY THAT DAMN DUMB? Don't you realize this is a DONE DEAL? The lottery WILL go to 54 balls, no matter how many people say NO or even HELL NO.

The only people that count are on the LOTTERY COMMISSION. They have decided that this is going to happen and nothing you do will change that. Why? The people on the COMMISSION are appointed not elected. Therefore, they don't feel any necessity to answer to THE PEOPLE.

What you really need to do is set a more realistic goal for yourself. You can't stop this. However, you can start now to prepare your campaign to get people to stop playing the lottery once these changes are made. If you can get enough people to stop playing for just 2 to 3 months, the sales will drop dramatically and the COMMISSION will have to explain to the STATE LEGISLATURE why the sales have dropped. If the sales drop corresponds with the 54 ball implementation then even a medium size idiot will be able to figure out what happened. It shouldn't require a BIG idiot to figure out what happened.

Remember the scratch off fiasco? The sales drop there was gradual. And like the scratch off fiasco, it will probably take about a year to get their attention or at least until the next financial report is released. That will get their attention. Then there will be a panel appointed to investigate, (6 months to a year), then comes the hearings on the problem, (another 6 months to a year), then the problem will be addressed in the LEGISLATURE and then the recommend changes which may or may not fix the problem.

I support your efforts however, I'm a realist. Don't be disheartened by failure on this one. You entered this fight too late. The outcome of this battle was decided before you got into it. Use their power against them. Let them hang themselves, with your help. Let's work and get ready for the NEXT BATTLES. Then the next fight will be a BIG one. Get an ELECTED COMMISSION, NOT APPOINTED COMMISSION. That will make the COMMISSION more responsive to THE PEOPLE. Elected officials know that only about 10% of the voters in TEXAS vote, and MAD PEOPLE VOTE. That means that for every 100 people in TEXAS, 5 mad people can get them off of the COMMISSION.

In your letter you recommended going to Tuesday and Thursday for CASH 5 drawings. They started on Tuesday and Friday, why change to Thursday? (Just a mistake on my part - I meant Friday.)

Fred L. - Wylie (Fred, you may be right but in my mind, I choose to believe that this is not a done deal. Only time will tell.)

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

I am an avid lotto player, and on occasion I also run a lotto pool. However, if this proposed change goes into effect, I will limit my playing, or quit altogether. I am not that lucky a player. I do, however, enjoy the game, especially when I have 50 numbers from which to select. Even though I have never won the "big one" I keep on playing because I, like many others I have discussed this with, feel that 50 seems to be a range of numbers we are comfortable with, and from which we think selecting the right combination is not impossible. Changing to 54 numbers would certainly change that. And why play, if there is little or no hope of winning?

People in Texas spend a lot of money to try and reach that "elusive dream." But, guess what? When it is not only elusive, but an almost impossibility, we will smarten up mighty quick!

Carmen M. (409 Area Code??)

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