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The Hodgepodge PageAll About the Texas Lottery ...Brought To You By ...
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Comments - E-mail Us Monday, Oct. 8, 2001 - I have the transcript of my comments that I made to the Texas Lottery ready to post but I have not had a chance to read it so that's why it's not been posted. This was my press week-end so publishing the Lotto Report had to take top priority. I've posted the latest edition of the Lotto Report for you though - it's completely current including Saturday's drawing. Enjoy and good luck. Click here to read it. Remember, for ease of reading it, magnify it to 200%. I'm leaving for Austin today - I will be present for the Commissioners meeting tomorrow where they will vote on these proposed rule changes. We'll see if they care, when making game changes like this, what the people (players) say, think and feel about the changes or if their sole intent is to simply find a way for them to make more money for themselves by taking money away from the players. This rule change does not effect sales - it will only increase the TLC's income! That's what this rule change is all about. Anyway, stay tuned ... Thursday, Oct. 4, 2001 - Thanks for all the kinds words of appreciation. I'm really glad for those of you who "targeted" numbers "38" and "12" and did well in last nights draw. There were more winners than normal last night and I know a small part of that was due to my posting the Lotto Report here on my web site for you. I posted excerpts of "38" and "12" on the "Fun Page" so if you don't know what I'm talking about, click here to go to the "Fun Page." You can see first hand what I mean about "targeting" a number and only playing the numbers with it that have been drawn the most with the "target" number. This happens more often than not, but I rarely post this data on my site. Those who take the Lotto Report see it on a daily basis. I will try to have the transcript posted today of what I said at the Comment hearing - but it'll be later. The TLC posted it sometime yesterday afternoon. We went to the Fair yesterday and didn't get home til pretty late last night. While at the fair, we attended the 8 PM Texas Lottery Show. My lucky husband was sitting in the chair with a number on it that was selected to participate in the show. I've gotta say, this year's show was better than last years - at least they didn't throw pies in your face this year. Anyway, he won 50 scratch off tickets - The tickets were game #166, Sunny Money - a very old game - it's not even on the "Winning Tickets" remaining sheets that they had posted there at the fair. He won $5 off all those tickets. It's too bad they don't take advantage of having players in attendance like that to share some of their current rule changes with - it is a perfect opportunity to get real feedback. I guess they don't really care what the players think or say or they are afraid of the players answers or they don't want the players to know what's up! Sunday, Sept. 30, 2001 - Updated 10-02-01 - I went to Austin Friday and commented at the public comment hearing. I was the only one there which is what I expected. They asked that the transcript be turned in by Monday morning (10-1-01) so hopefully they will have it posted so you can see first hand what I said. (Not posted - they say they haven't received it - I will post it on my web-site for you too.) I did say NO to paying the amount they advertise. They need to pay us what's in the pot - not what they advertise. I turned in approx. 1000 signatures on petitions and as many of your emails as I could print. I missed some - but that's OK. If what I turned in doesn't work, a few hundred more won't matter anyway. I may try to finish printing them and submit them at the Commissioners meeting. The next step is for the Commissioners to vote on this rule. The next Commissioners meeting will be on Tuesday, October 9 at 8:30 am. at Lottery headquarters in Austin. The Commissioners will take comments from those folks who attend and who wish to speak. I will be there to see what they do. A Gift For You! I've been asked to put the "Lotto Report" on my web site since the jackpot is an estimated $40 million. Of course, it's only an "estimated $40 million" IF it's paid out over 25 years. You see, the lottery doesn't really have $40 million for the winner - when you win the lotto - all that you've really won is 37.532% of all sales leading up to the win (roll). They take that 37.532% of sales and invest it for the winner. To arrive at the amount advertised, they then estimate how much a total return of that investment would be. The winner is entitled to every penny of interest earned off that investment - that's what he won - and now, they're trying to change that. Anyway, here is a special prize just for you - click here to read the latest Lotto Report - use it to "target" your number and I hope you get lucky and win. This report was printed Monday, 9-24-01 so it's only two drawings old. It's a "pdf file" which means that you need Adobe Reader on your computer to open and read it - for ease of reading, be sure and magnify it to about 175%. Good luck! Note - for the DFW folks - Please buy a copy! Don't break me - OK? Thursday, Sept 20, 2001 - Bad news - Both my web server and I were hit with the virus "nimda" and "kak" on Tuesday of this week. This is why my web site was down, why you were getting out of date drawing results and why I couldn't respond to so many of you. The good news is that we got back up last night around 7 pm - I've got to tell you, there were many trying and frustrating moments during the last 2 days. I can assure you, I would have been better off if I had just gone on vacation! I have lost some invaluable files that I will have to re-build - one such file loss was my GET REAL membership file. This is a big loss to me - it was just names, addresses and email addresses and I don't think I had it backed up on a floppy - But I'm not certain yet. I understand the TLC will be announcing a new date for a comment hearing and I also understand that no one showed up for the hearing they proceeded to conduct last week in spite of the horrible mess our country was and is still in. Anyway, I will be turning in all your comments the day they have the comment hearing. Your comments WILL become a part of the record so if they proceed to adopt this rule, there will be no question as to how players felt about paying the figure they advertise instead of the amount that is actually in the pot. I will also be producing other data that should give just cause to not adopt this rule. I'll keep you posted and let you know the hearing date. Thank you for all your emails of concern this week. I do not believe I was hacked - just unlucky in that we got the viruses. Thursday, Sept. 13, 2001 - I am proud to report that as of 4:15 pm the TLC finally agreed to re-schedule the public comment hearing that was scheduled for Friday, Sept. 14. However, I want you to know that they did not agree to this because I ask them to postpone it - in fact - my asking them to postpone this hearing only prompted them to schedule a Commissioners meeting for next Wednesday where they listed on the agenda to, "discuss and possible adoption of the rules" instead. That angered me so much that I called, faxed and emailed everyone from the Governor, Lt. Governor, AG, Senators, State Reps, Newspapers and the Commissioners themselves. How dare the TLC refuse to postpone a public comment hearing when the people are facing what we are and with no transportation available to the people who may want to attend a hearing in Austin. Anyway, here's the confirmation I received from the TLC's regarding the current proposed rule - The purpose of the message is to confirm the following: (1.) The Texas Lottery Commission will conduct the scheduled rule making public comment hearings on September 14, 2001 at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. (2.) Agency staff will recommend that item XIV (consideration of and possible discussion and/or action, including adoption, on amendments, repeal and/or new rules within Subchapter D, 16 TAC Chapter 401; specifically, amendments to §§401.302, 401.303, 401.304, 401.307, 401.308, 401.309, and 401.310; repeal of §401.301; and new rules §§401.301, 401.313, and 401.314) and item XV (consideration of and possible discussion and/or action, including adoption, on amendments to 16 TAC §§401.305 and 401.312, Lotto Texas and Texas Two Step game rules, respectively) not be considered during the September 19, 2001 Commission meeting. (3.) An additional public comment hearing for the above referenced rules will be held sometime in the future. Ridgely C. Bennett, Deputy General Counsel Also, other good news - the TLC advised me today that they will NOT be throwing out the comments they received previously even though they originally told me all comments would be discarded. Now the problem is that I did not print most of them because I knew they were going to "re-propose the rule" and would not accept these comments. So I saved wear and tear on my printer and deleted most of them thinking they were useless to us. But this is not a big deal because so many of you commented again anyway. Enough for now except let me thank those of you who were concerned about my husbands where abouts this week. He was safe at home all week on vacation. He was not flying but is deeply saddened, hurt, troubled and angry with all that is happening. But somehow, we have faith that something good will come from all of this. May God watch over all of us. Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2001 - This morning I requested that the TLC postpone the comment hearing which was scheduled for Friday, Sept. 14. I feel this issue is an important issue and conducting a hearing at this time would not be fair to the people as too many folks have been affected by yesterday's tragedy's - including me. I am awaiting word from them. This will be a true test for the TLC - Sunday, Sept. 9, 2001 - Several comments I need to make. First, we've called for a public comment hearing so the TLC set the hearing date for Friday, Sept. 14 - 10 am at Lottery Headquarters in Austin. This is the day that I plan to turn in all your comments and petitions that you've made in opposition of the TLC paying the amount they advertise instead of the amount in the kitty. Not one person has written that they think this is a good idea! I want to thank you for re-submitting your comments - if you haven't said NO again, you have until Thursday, Sept. 13 to email me. I will also ask the TLC if they will continue to accept comments at least until the Commissioners meeting which would give more time for those of you who visit my site only occassionally. We need as many comments as humanly possible. Second, I sent a letter to every legislator in the the state this week-end. I've shown lotto wins and 4 different ways the TLC has paid these people. I explained that I believe there should be ONE rule and ONE way to calculate the prizes - this is the only fair way to run this game. The TLC has definitley taken advantage of players lack of knowledge and I find this disgusting - this absolutely abolishes any integrity they may have had. Anyway, to see the 4 different ways the winners were paid, just click here. Anyway, I got on this soap box because I would like you to talk to these winners. Email me your thoughts about their being short-changed and I'll relay them or post them. OK. My email links are at the top of this page. Friday, Aug. 17, 2001 - On August 10, the TLC re-proposed paying the 6 of 6 winners the amount they advertise rather than the amount that is actually in the prize pool for whoever wins. Because of the complexity of this matter, I have chosen to explain it to you by way of plain ole' questions and answers and I see its working. It is much easier to understand now. I have also posted the actual rules for you, new petitions, and other pages of interest for things the TLC is doing. All information stems from one page - click here or above to go to that page. We must comment again and this time, you won't be sorry for taking your time to write them. We have additional help and it will pay off for us! But it won't work if we're not backed by the players too. Please trust me and help me - spread the word and comment. PLEASE. Also, as you requested, I revised the petition to make it short, simple and to the point. I don't believe there will be anyone who can't read this quickly and either agree or disagree now. OK? Last, did you know that the TLC has made no effort on their web site to alert players that they re-wrote the rule and have entered into a NEW 30 day comment period. They haven't even posted the new rules they proposed. How's that for inviting comment, honesty and integrity? Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2001 - To those of you who wrote and said you'd bet a whole weeks pay that Keith Elkins wouldn't respond to my comments on July 27, 2001 - well, you were right. I guess the only way we can confirm my stats about the one year anniversary would be to write the TLC a letter and ask: (1) what date did 6/54 begin? (2) what date constitutes a year later? (3) how many drawings were in held during those dates? (4) what were the total sales for those drawings? (5) If we counted back the same number of drawings prior to 6/54, what date would that be? and finally, (6) what was the total sales for the previous drawings. Then those answers would confirm my stats. Oh well, we all know the TLC likes to stretch the truth in advertising - This month players lost $29 million dollars .. it was the unclaimed prize monies. Click here to read all about it. One more thing, the TLC has once again proposed to start paying the "advertised jackpot" amount and not a percentage of sales. Kim Kiplin, General Counsel, has informed me that we have to start all over with our comments. In other words, what you've already written isn't going to count. I'm seeing red over this but Kim said, "That's the law." I'm sure she took great pride in tellng me this. Anyway, I will be posting more on this later - The reason for the delay is that several Retailers are considering helping us put a halt to this once and for all. So this issue is pending right now. Continued....click here to read more
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