88 Ball Proposal - Feb 2003 - The Players Plan - Click here.
(This page contains links to all the related pages.)

Two Separate Issues Are Covered in The Following Comments

1. A bill is being introduced which would allow Texas to join
Multi State games. Representative Robert Punte from
San Antonio has submitted it. HB 209 - To read the bill
presented ... Click here
&
2. The TLC is planning to propose a new rule next month (Dec 2002)
to change Lotto Texas again. This time they want to either:
(a) add five more balls (6/59) which would make Lotto Texas
much harder to win - odds 1 in 45,057,474 - or
(b) make Lotto Texas like Texas 2 Step - odds 1 in 47 million.
Pick 5/44 plus 1/44 - 88 balls total

A RETAILER speaks up about the anticipated rule change to add more balls to Lotto Texas so players CAN'T win. Attention Players ... we need to be writing the retailers (corporate) to express our feelings about the TLC's anticipated rule change. The more letters the retailers receive, the better for us. Let's get a head start based on the "to come." Click here

Posted 8 new messages - Dec 13, 2002

To: lottoreport@lottoreport.com
Subject: sent out 416 emails to newspapers

Dawn
I used your handy link to the newspapers, saved a draft, then emailed it to each paper. Took a lot of time but if just one of these papers runs a story, I will be happy. (You did good! In fact, I'll use your comment to tell players that I have agreed to give the media copies of your comments upon request. They want to do interviews with people in their area and have asked for names. Reporters will simply call you and ask if you'd like to make a statement. It would really be helpful to me if, in future messages, you tell me what city you live in - especially if you are willing to give an interview.)

I also emailed Bill Oreilly and dropped a link to your site so hopefully we will get somewhere with that. I made it include all lotteries in my letter to him. I am going to start placing calls on Monday too.

I had surgery (foot) on Friday so with this down time, I am doing this. Do you think that I should push for a 6/50 matrix in my letters or what do you suggest? I am writing a new letter each week and will keep sending them till it's the end or we get the changes we want. Keep up the good work. Larry

Subject: Hello Dawn
To: lottoreport@lottoreport.com

Dawn,

I spoke to you a few days ago ( I called you up from Houston. Told you about ktrk.com website) Any ways, I have a lot of friends who play the lotto. We all want to take action. What do you think we could do to get these commissioners out of office, or rehaul the whole system? We are 110% going to do what you suggest. Thanks, Terry C. (I do have a plan and we need lots of volunteers from every city in Texas. And this time, the plan will work. I'm confident because the TLC has taught me well in our past battles! Just stay tuned.)

To: <lottoreport@lottoreport.com >
Subject: Proposed Changes

Ms. Nettles, After reading your story (a pdf) I find we have a lot in common except you have much that most of us don't. Determination and tenacity are the most outstanding. Thank you so very much on behalf of myself and all players who merely want a fair and honest game that does not change every time greed overwhelms the TLC. Thanks again. David C. (Thank you very much - messages like yours is one of my motivating factors.)

To: <lottoreport@lottoreport.com >
Subject: new ideas

The Commissioners need to study new ideas on upping the pot, and creating more winners. Have two drawings a week. The Wednesday night winner would only be awarded $1 million; the 5 of 6 would be awarded $10,000; 4 of 6 win $1000. 3 of 6 would win $250; and 2 of 6 would win $2.00. The remainder of the pot would go to enlarge the next Saturday night pot. Also, lower the balls to 50 balls. I have not checked the numbers to see if the stats fit but we, the public, can come up with better ideas that the three people who seem to have zero experience in this area Alas keep up the goood work. Chuck (I don't agree with a $2 payout for matching 2 numbers and I don't think most players do either. Two reasons - first, it gives the lottery an "excuse" to have a reserve fund [this is how they get more than their share] and secondly, it would take too much money out of the prize pool that is divided by the winners.)

To: <lottoreport@lottoreport.com >
Subject: Some Lotto suggestions

Dawn:

If they want to make more money, why not begin a Pick 4 game? By the way, New York was the state that recently reduced the number of balls in their drawing. No information on the results. (No, New York has 59 balls - and they "really" take advantage of their players. The percentage of sales they return is horrible.)

Lowell M., Amarillo, Texas

To: <customer.service@lottery.state.tx.us>, <lottoreport@lottoreport.com >,
Subject: Proposed Changes

My wife and I have played the same set of 30 numbers since the beginning. You changed the rules when your greed got the best of you once already. We kept our numbers even though we were out of it if one of them drawn was over fifty. Now, change things again and our numbers will be rendered more worthless than they are now and we can comfortably tear them up once and for all. No, we don't amount to much, only $30 every Wed. and Thurs (I think you mean Saturday). SO, GO AHEAD, MAKE MY DAY!!!!! David and Nickie C., Granbury, Texas. P.S. Did you folks get your training from READERS DIGEST SWEEPSTAKES? (I think every player in Texas shares your sentiments!)

To: lottoreport <lottoreport@lottoreport.com >
Subject: If I were the new TX Lottery chief

Dear Ms Nettles:

I know you're going to disagree with me, but, this is what I would do:

**In the short term, I would leave Lotto TX as is. (At this point, that's better than adding 5 balls!)

**I would pursue Mega Millions; if rejected, then apply for MUSL (Powerball) membership.
I'm sure TX players would welcome occasional $100+ million jackpots. (All lotteries are seeing a decrease in sales because players have become savvy to the odds of winning. The last thing we need in this economy is something to entice additional consumer spending chasing a dream that only our government is guaranteed to profit from.)

**After TX begins selling multi-state tickets, replace Lotto TX with a 6/49 small jackpot game,
maybe similar to the game starting in Michigan ("Winfall") next month, which will have a $5 million jackpot cap, with 3-of-6 occasionally paying FIFTY DOLLARS or more! Patrick D

To: <lottoreport@lottoreport.com >
Subject: Lotto

Hi Dawn! I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU for all you do on behalf of us Lottery players. I am willing to volunteer, just tell me HOW I can help. I have been so beyond angry/frustrated with the whole mess. I set aside the $$$ I used to spend each week for an occasional trip to S’port/Bossier City instead of playing the “LOSER GAMES OF TEXAS.” At least I have a better chance of breaking even or even winning!

I know my husband & I have contributed more than our fair share to the Texas Education Fund & we don’t even have kids. If enough of us protest in Austin, the TLC surely will have to listen.

Hard working Texans will not stand back to be BAMBOOZLED (Enron already did that) again. The TLC either needs to give us a “FAIR GAME” or just do away with it. How much more of this “SCAM” do they really think they can get away with before we say “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH”? (Plan is coming for this very issue - lottery players have no consumer protection. The AG is the TLC's legal representation. We will have to go to the DA in Travis county with "legitimate" complaints which I am spelling out for ya'll in my plan - the TLC has broken the law, in my educated opinion. The specifics must be addressed to the DA and if the DA will not respond to the hundreds or thousands of letters from ya'll, then we will have to all come together and file a Class Action lawsuit - Don't worry, I'm confident it won't cost us anything because the TLC will lose this battle in a court of law.)

I am seriously beginning to wonder exactly HOW MUCH of the player’s $$$ is actually going to the Education Fund & HOW MUCH is lining Gtech/lawmakers pockets? We all know the Education System is already in big trouble here in Texas (IT STINKS) & taxpayers are helpless & nothing is being done so WHO do we go to? Is there someone in Austin that will make the TLC listen to the players? (our plan is coming - stay tuned) Would it do any good to complain to the Sunset Commission? (they've finished their work for legislative changes) AGAIN? KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT! Sincerely, Jodi in N.Texas

Posted One New Message - 12-08-02
Subject: lotto
To: lottoreport@lottoreport.com

What a bunch of stupid jerks in Austin. People have stopped playing the lottery now and even more will quit if they add 5 more balls. What have these people been smoking in Austin? They are a bunch of crooks and it shows by the loss of interest in playing the lottery. They need to get a life. The system should never have been changed in the first place. John - McAllen, Tex

Let me share with you how they think and what the motive is. Then you can "really" decide what you should call them. Fact - By adding 5 balls, it will be much harder for players to win. They "purposely" want to conduct drawings where no one wins the top prize because the bigger the "jackpot," the more dollars players (Texans) will spend.

Now I'll show you what I mean and as you look at these figures, understand two things. (1) This is precisely what they want to achieve by having no winners and (2) the figures are much lower NOW than they were prior to adding the 4 balls in July 2000 and prior to discussions of adding 4 balls back in Aug 1999.

- Current sales figures after adding 4 balls - (as of 12-8-02)
Jackpot $4 Million - Total draw sales last time - $3.4 million
Jackpot $5 Million - Total draw sales last time - $3.9 million
Jackpot $6 Million - Total draw sales last time - $3.6 million
Jackpot $9 Million - Total draw sales last time - $4.4 million
Jackpot $12 Million - Total draw sales last time - $4.8 million
Jackpot $15 Million - Total draw sales last time - $4.8 million
Jackpot $19 Million - Total draw sales last time - $6.0 million
Jackpot $23 Million - Total draw sales last time - $6.8 million
Jackpot $27 Million - Total draw sales last time - $8.3 million
Jackpot $32 Million - Total draw sales last time - $9.6 million
Jackpot $40 Million - Total draw sales last time - $12.6 million
Jackpot $50 Million - Total draw sales last time - $19.9 million
Jackpot $70 Million - Total draw sales last time - $33.8 million
Jackpot $85 Million - Total draw sales last time - $50.5 million

Prior to adding 4 balls - discussions underway though
*Prior to discussions of adding 4 balls the 1st time (1999)
Jackpot $4 Million - Total draw sales (4-15-00) - $4.4 million
Jackpot $6 Million - Total draw sales (4-19-00) - $4.5 million
Jackpot $10 Million - Total draw sales (4-22-00) - $5.6 million
Jackpot $13 Million - Total draw sales (4-5-00) - $6.1 million
Jackpot $17 Million - Total draw sales (4-8-00) - $7.3 million
Jackpot $23 Million - Total draw sales (7-1-00) - $9.4 million
Jackpot $28 Million - Total draw sales (3-28-00) - $10.4 million
Jackpot $29 Million - Total draw sales (11-11-99) - $10.8 million
*Jackpot $30 Million - Total draw sales (3-3-99) - $12.7 million
*Jackpot $37 Million - Total draw sales (7-17-99) - $14.4 million
*Jackpot $37 Million - Total draw sales (10-14-98) - $15.5 million
*Jackpot $50 Million - Total draw sales (10-17-98) - $23.4 million
*Jackpot $50 Million - Total draw sales (5-17-97) - $27.8 million
*Jackpot $50 Million - Total draw sales (11-27-96) - $22.4 million
*Jackpot $55 Million - Total draw sales (10-18-97) - $28.3 million
*Jackpot $55 Million - Total draw sales (5-31-95) - $25.9 million
*Jackpot $60 Million - Total draw sales (8-19-95) - $29.2 million
*Jackpot $70 Million - Total draw sales (10-21-98) - $35.4 million
*Jackpot $77 Million - Total draw sales (3-16-94) - $51.9 million

FYI - Sales for the $77 million jackpot took 6 draws to reach and were higher than they were for the $85 million jackpot which took 11 draws to reach. The only reason the jackpot was $85 million and not $77 million is because they increased the percentage of sales the 6 of 6 winner would receive when they added those 4 balls. Just imagine what it would be like to collect $51 million in just 3 days. Then, the 6 of 6 winners would only get 37.532% of "total sales in the roll" and then he has to pay taxes on it to boot!

As you can clearly see, with no winners, they can make LOTS of money in just one drawing and this is what they want. It does not matter to them that players are over-spending and hurting themselves in hopes of hitting it big, they just want the dollars and this is how they can get them. Personally, I think they have no morals. They are not stupid, but they are knowingly, willfully, and intentionally scamming the people because the only ones who will come out richer is the lottery and a handful of people at the expense of the majority of the population. Isn't this the definition of "scamming?"

If you'd like to see total sales and the jackpot figures for each drawing since inception, click here. And if you'd like to see additional financial reasons for the anticipated proposed rule change, click here.

Continued ... Click here