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Texas Lottery Director Resigns
Texas Lottery Director Resigns Over Inflated Jackpots, Advertised Higher Than Sales Could Support.
The executive director of the Texas Lottery Commission resigned Friday, two weeks after admitting he had approved advertising Lotto Texas jackpots that were higher than ticket sales could support.
Reagan Greer had overseen the nation's third-largest lottery since February, 2003.
"In recent days, it has become clear that intense, ongoing efforts to restore Texans' confidence in the lottery can best be advanced through a change of leadership", Greer wrote in his letter of resignation.
Greer said that he had signed off on a staff report proposing an $8 million advertised jackpot for June, 8 even though the report said estimated sales could cover only $6.5 million.
He said he approved that and two earlier inflated estimates without studying them because he trusted their accuracy.
The lottery commission meets Monday, and its agenda suggests Greer could have been fired, had he not stepped down. It also indicates five top staff members could be reassigned, including the deputy director who now assumes Greer's duties.
Lottery commission chairman Tom Clowe did not immediately return a call seeking comment on Friday.
The inflated jackpots came to light after a lottery watchdog filed a complaint with the state attorney general.
Afterward, the commission for the first time held the Lotto Texas jackpot at $8 million for the June, 11 drawing because that was all estimated sales could support.
The Lotto Texas jackpot starts at $4 million and typically grows by at least $1 million each time no tickets match all five numbers and a bonus ball. During the first four drawings, the commission can use reserves for payouts if not enough tickets have been sold. But ticket sales usually are slow until the jackpot reaches $9 million.
Lee Deviney, one of two managers who proposed the inflated jackpots, told 'The Associated Press' the agency did not have a clear policy on what should happen in such a situation, even though top management knew as early as March, 2004 that it was likely to occur. He was fired after the inflated jackpots became public.
Source: BonusGambler.com Editors' Choice
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