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The Florida Lottery was created in 1986
through a constitutional amendment voters enacted by a two-to-one margin.
Florida voters authorized a lottery that would use all its proceeds to enhance
public education in Florida.
Governor Bob Martinez and the Florida
Legislature established just such an education lottery and dedicated it to
“maximize revenues to education to allow the people of Florida to benefit
from significant additional monies while providing the best lottery games
available.”
Over the 19 - year history of the Florida Lottery, both
goals have been accomplished.
Driven by the legislative mandate for tickets
to go on sale by January 18, 1988, the Lottery's “start-up” was a
year of dynamic activity: Rebecca Paul was appointed as the Lottery's first
permanent Secretary; employees were hired; vendors for On-line and Scratch-Off
games were contracted; retailers were recruited, vetted and trained; tickets
dispensers and lottery terminals were installed at retailers throughout the
state.
All the “start-up” preparations culminated on
January 12, 1988, when the Florida Lottery began sales of its very first ticket
- six days ahead of schedule. The Lottery's first game, the $1 Scratch-Off
ticket MILLIONAIRE, was an instant hit. In its first week, the game exceeded
$95 million in sales, and the Florida Lottery set a lottery industry record.
MILLIONAIRE and the other Scratch-Off games that quickly followed were so
successful that - in just 17 days - the Lottery was able to repay the original
startup money borrowed from the state's General Revenue Fund, $15.5 million
plus interest.
 Florida
Lottery Game to Give Free Gas for Life
FLORIDA, USA (June
26, 2008) -- Starting on Monday in Florida, a new lottery game will promise
free gas for life. The headline-grabbing prizes include free gas for a year or
free gas for life................Subscribers
Scientific Games Awarded
Florida Lottery Instant Ticket Contract
NEW YORK, USA (June
19, 2008) -- Scientific Games (Nasdaq:
SGMS) announced it has been awarded a contract as the primary vendor to supply
instant tickets and related services, including marketing, shipping,
warehousing, game design, inventory control, distribution and sales staff
training, to the Florida Lottery...............Subscribers Florida Lottery 2008-09 Budget
Continues To Support Public Education
TALLAHASSEE, Florida
(June 11, 2008) - Governor Charlie Crist today signed the 2008-09 state budget,
which includes $163 million for the Florida Department of
Lottery................Subscribers Florida Lottery Tickets Now
Available At Kmart
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (June 9, 2008) --
The Florida Lottery announced today that it has reached a deal with Kmart to
provide lottery players with even more convenient locations to purchase tickets
for their favorite Florida Lottery games. Ninety-eight Kmart stores statewide
are becoming Florida Lottery retailers this year, bringing the Lottery closer
to its strategic goal of 13,500 authorized retailers................Subscriptions Florida Lottery Celebrates
Safety Month with an Award of Distinction for Loss
Prevention
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (June 5, 2008) – Just
in time for National Safety Month, the Florida Lottery is proud to announce its
2007 Award of Distinction for Loss Prevention by the Interagency Advisory
Council on Loss Prevention..................Subscribers First $2 Lotto Plus™
Winner Claims $16 Million Jackpot!
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (May
19, 2008) -- The Florida Lottery announced today that FLORIDA LOTTO™
winner Charles E. Hill, 56, of Bradenton, claimed the May 10, $2 LOTTO
PLUS™ jackpot in the amount of $16 million - the $6 million base jackpot
plus an additional $10 million! Hill is the first LOTTO PLUS jackpot winner
since the Florida Lottery introduced the $2 and $3 LOTTO PLUS jackpot levels on
March 2, 2008................Subscribers Florida Lottery Adds New
Drawings
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (May 16, 2008)) -- The
Florida Lottery is adding midday draws to CASH 3™ and PLAY 4™,
offering players twice the fun in one day!........................Subscribers Add-On Jackpot Winner, Extra
$1 nets $10m, One Florida Lotto™ Ticket Wins $16 Million
Jackpot
$6 million base jackpot plus an additional
$10 million
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (May 11, 2008) -- The Florida
Lottery announced today that one ticket matched all six winning numbers in the
Saturday, May 10, FLORIDA LOTTO™ drawing. The lucky player purchased a $2
play, winning $16 million - the $6 million base jackpot and $10 million from
the $2 jackpot prize pool. Had the player purchased a FLORIDA LOTTO $3 play,
he/she would have won $31 million - the base jackpot plus an additional $25
million!....................Subscribers
Indiana Jones™ Fans Will
“Dig” The Florida Lottery’s Newest Scratch-Off
Game
Players can now collect some of their favorite
scenes from each movie
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (May 3, 2008) --
Stepping back in time to 1957, Dr. Jones and his sidekick Mutt, race against
sinister Soviet agents in search of a mysterious crystal skull in the newest
Indiana Jones adventure – Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal
Skull, due in theaters May 22.................Subscribers Florida lotto™ Celebrates
20 Years of Winning!
FLORIDA LOTTO has awarded more
than $8 billion in prizes and generated more than $6 billion for
education
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (April 30, 2008) -- FLORIDA
LOTTO™, Florida’s game of ‘choice’ with recently
added jackpot options, is celebrating its 20th
anniversary!.................Subscribers Senate Cuts Back Funds for
Lottery ITVMs and Advertising
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (April
25, 2008) -- Senate budget chair Senator Lisa Carlton met with House
counterpart Rep. Ray Sansom and their respective staffs recently
to..........Subscribers Florida Lottery Sales Ahead of
Last Year, but Down on Projections
JACKSONVILLE, Florida,
USA (April 18, 2008) -- State economists have reduced their projected sales for
this year's lottery revenues by more than $40 million.................Subscribers Florida Lottery Pays Uncle Sam
For You!
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (April 14, 2008) -- Just
in time for tax season, the Florida Lottery is offering players a
"tax-break" with its newest family of Scratch-Off games: TAXES PAID.
Ranging from $1 to $10 in price, these Scratch-Off games offer players the
opportunity to win "tax-free" top prizes, since the Florida Lottery will
pay the taxes on all top prizes won!.............Subscribers Florida Lottery Changing Cash 3, Play 4 Games to Twice a
Day
FLORIDA, USA (April 10, 2008) -- Gary Taylor, writing
in the local news said beginning May 19, consumers will be able to play their
favorite Florida Lottery Cash 3 and Play 4 numbers twice a
day/................Subscribers State’s Lottery Sales Reportedly in
Decline
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (April 9, 2008) –
According to a local media report Floridians aren’t paying to play the
lottery as much as the state’s revenue people
anticipated...............Subscribers Florida Lottery & Lottery Dynamics Boost Florida
Lotto™ Sales Through Jackpot Choices
TALLAHASSEE,
Florida (April 1, 2008) – The Florida Lottery and
Lottery Dynamics today announced
positive early results from the recent enhancements to the Lottery’s
flagship game, Florida Lotto™...............Read the full story at: Vol.43 No.2
Two New Lottery Offerings Provide Scratch-Off
Winners With Additional Money in Their Pockets and Second Chances to
Win!
Introducing the ‘TAXES PAID’ Family
and ‘CASH BLOWOUT’ Second Chance Drawing
TALLAHASSEE,
Florida, USA (April 1, 2008) - The Florida Lottery today announced the launch
of the TAXES PAID family of Scratch-Off games. Ranging from $1 to $10 in price,
these Scratch-Off games offer players the opportunity to win "tax-free" top
prizes, since the Florida Lottery will pay the taxes on all top prizes
won!.....................Subscribers Mandated Profit Percentage Restricts Lottery Funds For
Education
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, USA (March 18, 2008) --
Speaking at the Lottery Board of Trustees public meeting on Tuesday, March 18,
the Secretary of the Florida Lottery and the Executive Director of the
North Carolina Lottery each stressed to
the Board that mandating a profit percentage..............Read the full story at: Vol.42 No.12
Lottery Dynamics Announces Contract for Lotto
Silver+™ in Florida
DALLAS, Texas (March 7, 2008) -- A
licensee of Lottery Dynamics has
entered into an agreement with the Florida Lottery for a customized version of
Lotto Silver+™ -- an “add-on” game within the Lottery Dynamics
family of patent-protected products...................Read the full story at: Vol.42 No.11
Gambling-Related Bills Under
Consideration
FLORIDA, USA (March 3, 2008) -- Some of the
gambling-related bills under consideration in Tallahassee
would............Subscribers Florida Lottery Adds 'Alotta' Lotto Choices
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (February 14, 2008) -- The Florida Lottery
is adding more choices to its flagship game, FLORIDA LOTTO, offering players
three levels of jackpots to choose from!.................Read the full story at: Vol.42 No.8
Lotto Undergoes Biggest Makeover Since
1999
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (February 11, 2008) -- According
to a published report yesterday the Florida Lottery’s flagship lotto game
is about to undergo the biggest makeover since 1999.............Subscribers Lottery Faces Stiffer Competition for Gambling
Dollars
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, USA (February 10, 2008) -
The Florida Lottery turns 20 this year, a milestone that is marked by stiffer
competition for players' gambling dollars...........Subscribers
Pair Arrested for Defrauding
Lottery
Pair Claimed $187,000 in Winnings From
Stolen Scratch-Offs
FLORIDA, USA (February 7, 2008) -- A lottery
retailer’s clerk has been arrested for stealing Florida Lottery
scratch-off tickets and claiming $187,000 in winning.............Subscribers Governor Crist's Proposed 2008-09 Budget Supports Florida
Lottery Priorities
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (, JANUARY 31,
2008) - Florida Lottery Secretary Leo
DiBenigno today applauded Governor Charlie Crist's fiscal year 2008-09
budget recommendations for the Florida Lottery. The proposals will allow the
self-supporting, revenue-generating state agency to boost profits and raise
significant additional dollars for Florida's public education
system...................Read the full story at:
Vol.42 No.6 Florida Lottery
Celebrates 20 Years of Winning
More than $18
Billion Contributed to Education
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (January 18,
2008) -- On January 12, 2008, the Florida Lottery kicked off its 20th
anniversary by hosting a series of community events throughout the state - most
taking place at Florida Lottery district offices. Lottery players were given
the opportunity to win great prizes and receive a free Florida Lottery 20th
anniversary t-shirt, as well as a slice of birthday cake.................Read the full story at: Vol.42 No.4
Florida Lottery Succeeds With Life Scratch-Off
Family
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (January 11, 2008) -- Outpacing
Florida’s previous “families” of games, the LIFE
Scratch-Off family has become the Florida Lottery’s number one performing
series..................Read the full story at:
Vol.42 No.3
Florida
Lottery's Holiday Millionaire Raffle™ Makes 12 New Millionaires In A
Single Drawing!
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (December 29, 2007)
-- The Florida Lottery today held the Holiday MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE™ drawing,
randomly selecting 237 winning numbers with a total worth of $16.5
million..................Subscribers Florida Lottery Drawings Now Available 24/7
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (December 28, 2007) -- Beginning January 1st,
Florida Lottery players will have access to the Lottery drawings via webcasts
posted on the Lottery’s Web site at www.flalottery.com. The webcasts will
be available within the hour following the actual drawing for all Lottery games
..................Read the full story at: Vol.42
No.1 Florida Lottery Thanks Its
Players With TV Ad Featuring FSU Chorus Students
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (December 24, 2007) -- The Florida Lottery
announced today the release of a recently produced television advertisement
featuring 14 Florida State University (FSU) School of Music
students...............Read the full story at:
Vol.41 No.14 The Florida Lottery
to Boost Sales With 500 New Terminals Statewide
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (December 17, 2007) -- The Florida Lottery announced today
that it will expand its retailer network by 500 from the current 13,000
retailers to approximately 13,500 by March 2008................Read the full story at: Vol.41 No.13
Lottery Names New Hispanic-Market Advertising
Agency
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (November 20, 2007) -- The
Florida Lottery announced today the selection of Machado/Garcia-Serra
Communications (MGS) as its new Hispanic-market advertising
agency..............Subscribers Privatization Idea Has Reportedly Been Under Consideration
Since June
FLORIDA, USA (September 11, 2007) – The
proposal put forward by Florida’s Governor Crist last week to explore the
possibility of selling or leasing the state’s lottery is apparently not new,
it is reported to have been under consideration since June...........Subscribers
Lottery Privatization Proposal Has Its
Critics
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (September 9, 2007)
– Numerous media reports over the last week or so credit Florida Governor
Charlie Crist as saying that he is thinking of selling the State Lottery to a
private vendor.................................Subscribers
Florida Lottery Looks to Boost Revenue by
Increasing the Number of Retailers and Bringing back ITVMs
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (September 6, 2007) – The Florida Lottery
received permission this week to increase the number of retailers around the
state that sell lottery tickets from................Subscribers Governor Contemplates Privatizing State Lottery
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (September 04, 2007) – Numerous media
reports today credit Florida Governor Charlie Crist as saying that he is
thinking of selling the Florida State Lottery to a private
vendor.............Subscribers Florida Lottery Hires Product Development
Specialist
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (August 28, 2007) -
The Florida Lottery today announced the hiring of Product Development
Specialist Justin Mysock..............Read the
full story at: Vol.40 No10 The
Florida Lottery Warns Citizens of Bogus Check Lottery Scams
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (August 20, 2007) -- The Florida Lottery is
warning consumers nationwide of a lottery scam involving a letter indicating
the recipient has won money from a sweepstake sponsored by multi-national
companies in North America..........Read the full
story at: Vol.40 No.9 Florida
Lottery Releases Inspector General Report On Ticket Quality Assurance
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (August 1, 2007) - On Monday, May
14, 2007, the Florida Lottery learned of a possible printing error on a single
Florida Lottery GOLD RUSH Scratch-Off ticket.............Subscribers Florida Lottery Announces Another Banner Year With More Than
$1.26 Billion To Education
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (JULY
31, 2007) - The Florida Lottery announced today that fiscal year 2006-2007
(July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007) produced record-breaking sales revenue and
contributions to Florida’s public education system..........Read the full story at: Vol.40 No.6
Going, Going, Gone! Last Ticket Sold For
Firecracker Millionaire Raffle*!
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (July
2, 2007) - The Florida Lottery sold the last Firecracker MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE*
ticket at 8:44 p.m. yesterday. Firecracker MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE will make 12
lucky players new millionaires when the drawing takes place on the 4th of
July..........Subscribers Governor Signs Legislation Granting the Florida Lottery Patent
Authority
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (June 13, 2007)
-- Governor Charlie Crist today signed Senate Bill 1376, which grants the
Florida Lottery authority to apply for and hold patents for unique lottery
games..........Subscribers Statement By The Florida Lottery Regarding Possible Misprint of
Gold Rush Ticket
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (May 17, 2007)
-- On Monday, May 14, the Florida Lottery learned of a possible printing error
on a Florida Lottery GOLD RUSH Scratch-Off ticket..........Subscribers New Lottery 'Firecracker' Raffle Will Offer 237 Chances to
Win
FLORIDA, USA (May 11, 2007) – Following the highly
successful Holiday Millionaire Raffle, which sold out 1.25 million tickets in
less than two weeks, the Florida Lottery is preparing to launch the Firecracker
Millionaire Raffle..........Subscribers Florida Lottery Secretary Appoints New Director of Product
Development
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (May 9, 2007) --
Florida Lottery Secretary Leo
DiBenigno today announced the appointment of Vicki Munroe as director of
product development, a newly created position..........Read the full story at: Vol.39 No.7
Florida Governor Applauds the Florida
Lottery’s $17 Billion Contribution to Education
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (March 20, 2007) -- Florida Governor Charlie
Crist today announced the Florida Lottery has reached a new milestone in
contributions to Florida education – $17 billion.........Read the full story at: Vol.38 No.13
Report Recommends Lawmakers Consider New Ways
to Keep Lottery Players Interested
TALLAHASSEE, Florida
(February 26, 2007) -- A new report by legislative auditors reportedly
recommends that Governor Charlie Crist and state lawmakers consider new ways to
keep lottery players interested.........Subscribers State Audits Lottery - Finds Accounting Principles Sound, Minor
Issues to Address
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (February 21,
2007) – An audit performed by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and
Government Accountability (OPPAGA) has reportedly found that the Florida
Lottery management has maintained effective internal control over financial
reporting. All Headline News (AHN) reported that the audit was released on
January 30.............Subscribers Governor Appoints Lottery Veteran To Lead
Lottery
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (January 10, 2007) --
Florida’s new Governor Charlie Crist has appointed Leo DiBenigno to lead
the Florida Lottery............Subscribers Lottery Wants More Minority Retailers
FLORIDA (January 6, 2007) -- The Florida Lottery has reportedly launched a
recruitment initiative complete with free food in an effort to increase the
number of minority-owned retailers
statewide................................Subscribers Ten New Millionaires For The New Year in Today's Holiday
Millionaire Raffle™ Drawing
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA
(January 1, 2007) -- Today the Florida Lottery drew the winning numbers in
Holiday MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE™ selecting 130 lucky winners who will win a
total of $13 million..................Read the
full story at: Vol.38 No.2
Governor Names
New Lottery Secretary
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (December
28, 2006) – Governor elect Charlie Crist is reported to have named Leo
DiBenigno as secretary of the Florida Lottery. DiBenigno will move up from his
role as deputy secretary at the Florida
Lottery............................Subscribers Statement By The Florida Lottery Regarding The Purchase Of
Holiday Millionaire Raffle™ Tickets
TALLAHASSEE,
Florida, USA (December 6, 2006) -- It was recently brought to our attention
that Florida Lottery Holiday Millionaire Raffle tickets were being offered for
sale in a manner inconsistent with state laws governing the purchase and sale
of Florida Lottery tickets................................Subscribers Traditional Passive Lotteries Proving Popular with
Players
FLORIDA, USA (November 24, 2006) – It would
appear that there has been some sort of resurgence in the popularity of the
good old traditional passive lottery/raffle tickets. A number of US lotteries
have recently launched the traditional passive type lottery or raffle to
Increase sales with outstanding success...........................Subscribers Tax Court Reaffirms Lottery Payments are 'Ordinary
Income'
WASHINGTON D.C. (November 9, 2006) - The Tax
Court has reportedly reaffirmed that proceeds from the sale of a right to
future annual lottery payments constitutes ordinary income, not capital gain,
after reviewing two test cases involving.............................Subscribers
Florida Lottery Contributions to Education
Surpass $16 Billion --Yes, that's $16 Billion - with a B --
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (September 15, 2006) -- Changes in some of
Florida's most viewed sites will be noticed all over the state as Florida
Lottery billboards will soon show its latest milestone - $16 billion to
education.....................................Read the full story at: Vol.36 No.12
Florida Lottery Partners with Stock Car Racing
Giant for Race for Cash Summer Promotion
TALLAHASSEE,
Florida, USA (June 26, 2006) -- In partnership with the International Speedway
Corporation, the Florida Lottery will launch a hot summer
promotion............Subscribers New Feature Pays-Off for Fantasy 5
ORLANDO,
Florida (March 22, 2006) -- Ticket sales for Monday night's Fantasy 5 drawing
reached more than $1.14 million, boosted by a new instant-win feature called
EZmatch.......Subscribers Lottery Launches EZmatch, Fantasy 5 Launches Instant Winner
Game
FLORIDA, USA (March 20, 2006) -- Florida’s
lottery game that has produced more winners than any game has added an instant
winner feature to the three-times-a-week game.......Subscribers
Hurricane Wilma
Impacts Lottery Sales
FLORIDA, USA (October 29, 2005) -- By
Friday, a quarter of the state's 12,592 lottery stores were still closed from
Hurricane Wilma, according to the Florida Lottery. Only 137 of the 814 lottery
stores in Palm Beach County were............................Subscribers New Gaming Competition Restricts Lottery
Revenue
FLORIDA, USA (August 31.08.05) – The Florida
Lottery increased sales to $1.36 billion in 2004, an increase of nearly
.........................Subscribers Florida Lottery Maintains Commitment to Education with More
than $1 Billion in Fiscal Year 2004/2005
TALLAHASSEE,
Florida, USA (August 24, 2005) -- The Florida Lottery announced today the
Department’s contribution to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF)
for fiscal year 2004-2005 was a record-breaking.......................Read the full story at: Vol.32 No.9
Player Says – ‘Misprinted
Scratch-Off Ticket Not My Fault’
FLORIDA, USA
(July 29, 2005) – An alleged misprinted Florida Lottery ticket has one
regular player fuming..........................Subscribers Lottery to Increase Prize Return for Online
Games
FLORIDA, USA (June 21, 2005) -- Last month Governor
Jeb Bush signed a bill into law that allows the state lottery to divert a
larger percentage of turnover to prizes for its online
games..................................Subscribers Lottery Secretary Rebecca Mattingly Joins Governor Bush, Lt.
Governor Jennings and Cabinet Members at Ft. Myers "Capital for a
Day"
FT. MYERS, Florida (June 16, 2005) -- Florida
Lottery Secretary Rebecca D. Mattingly today joined Governor Jeb Bush, Lt.
Governor Toni Jennings and Florida Cabinet members at
..........................Subscribers Florida Lottery Receives Davis Productivity Award - For
Contributions to Education, Increased Sales and Reduced Operating
Costs
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (June 1, 2005) -- The Florida
Lottery received a Davis Productivity award today for their contributions to
education and improved sales strategies since ...........................Subscribers New Law Will Return More Prize Money to Players
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (May 28, 2005) -- Governor Jeb Bush has
reportedly signed a Bill into law that will increase the percentage of lottery
prize money returned to players..............................Subscribers Lottery Glitch Has Retailers Reportedly Paying for Unsold
Tickets
FLORIDA, USA (April 25, 2005) -- Florida Lottery
retailers have reportedly claimed they have been charged for lottery tickets
they haven't sold, because of a glitch in ............................Subscribers
Lottery Secretary Participates in Take Stock
in Children’s Rally in Tally
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA
(April 5, 2005) -- Florida Lottery Secretary Rebecca D. Mattingly today joined
state leaders, mentors, sponsors and more than 1,000 Take Stock in Children
students on the ............................Read
the full story at: Vol.31 No.2 Cuba's Unofficial Lottery Has Endured for
Decades
HAVANA, Cuba (February 9, 2005) -- Bolita, which
translates as "little ball," has been illegal in Havana for decades. But
Cuban lottery players say their beloved game endures because it's the only way
for average workers who don't receive .................Subscribers Florida Lottery to Host Live Remote Drawings at Super Bowl
XXXIX Superfest in Jacksonville
JACKSONVILLE, Florida, USA
(February 3, 2005) -- The Florida Lottery announced today that the Lottery will
host live broadcasts of..................................Subscribers New Florida Lottery Game Provides Free Play
FLORIDA, USA (January 23, 2005) -- Florida Lottery officials are poised to
launch Grouper, in which players can pay $5 for quick picks in five existing
games and get a sixth quick pick -- for free -- for a randomly selected
game........................Subscribers 
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