A Texas woman reaped $1.2 million on an $18 bet on a series of Kentucky Derby day races, officials said on Sunday.Insider Buzz, Winner Stories, Horse Track

When the Iowa Attorney General’s office began investigating an unclaimed lottery ticket worth millions, an incredible string of unlikely winners came to light — and a trail that pointed to an inside job.Insider Buzz, Legal, Iowa, Hot Lotto, Scandal, Technology, Security, Computerized Drawings, Investigation, Fraud, Crime, Multi-State Game

A man in Canada has had a truly amazing 24 hours, winning CA$2 million (US$1.5 million) on the lottery on the same day as his birthday and retirement.Winner Stories, British Columbia Lottery, Retire

A North Carolina lottery winner is lucky to be alive after his helicopter crashed and caught fire right on his front lawn.Winner Stories, Scratch Games, North Carolina, After the Big Win, General Interest

Controversial lottery-betting service Lottoland described Australian legislation that will in effect banish it from the country as “unnecessary and misguided”, while newsagents and lottery sellers have welcomed the decision.International, Legislation, Online Gambling, Australia

A lawyer working for a trust claimed a $457 million Powerball ticket sold at a Pennsylvania convenience store, leaving state lottery officials with no details about the person or people who will get the money.Powerball, Winner Stories, Pennsylvania, Jackpots, Multi-State Game, Anonymous

A New Jersey man tricked an 84-year-old woman into handing over more than $10,000 after telling her she won a lottery, but needed to pay the taxes on the winnings in advance, authorities said.New Jersey, Legal, New York, Scam, Theft, Law Enforcement, Crime

Patrick Rudolph was sitting at home playing online lottery games when he nearly missed that he’d won a huge prize.Winner Stories, Michigan, Online Gambling, Technology, Online Ticket Sales

A Colorado Uber driver received a tip from a passenger that eventually landed him $140,000.Winner Stories, Colorado, Scratch Games

Last August, the Massachusetts Lottery executive director said a new policy to stop the lottery from making massive payouts to frequent winners would be in place on Oct. 1, 2017. However, more than half a year later, no policy is in effect.Legal, Winner Stories, Massachusetts, Retailer, General Interest, Investigation, Won multiple times

The Tennessee Lottery is conducting a “Dog Days of Summer” photo contest through May 7 in search of the next “Tennessee Pup Star.”Tennessee, Scratch Games, Announcement, General Interest, Lottery Tickets

Even with sales up more than 3 percent through nine months of the fiscal year, the Massachusetts Lottery has seen an almost 8 percent drop in profits so far this year, the executive director reported Tuesday.Financials, Massachusetts

Indiana lottery players check your tickets: a lottery ticket worth more than a million bucks is about to expire.Unclaimed Prize, Jackpots, Indiana

Illinois’ practice of keeping some scratch-off games on the market indefinitely after top prizes have been awarded stands in contrast to other states, whose lotteries are required to pull a game within a specific time frame once the last remaining top prize has been claimed.Illinois, Scratch Games, General Interest, Investigation, Camelot Group, Northstar Lottery Group

Iowa Lottery CEO Terry Rich announced Thursday that he intends to retire in late 2018 or early 2019. Rich has led the Iowa Lottery since February 2009 and is just the second person to serve as its CEO since the lottery’s start in 1985.Administration, Iowa, Announcement, Retire, Director

One Colorado man didn’t realize he won nearly $2 million after a drawing until he checked his ticket — five months later.Winner Stories, Colorado, Jackpots

For the second time in 2018, a very lucky lottery player from Methuen, Massachusetts, has won a $1 million prize on an instant ticket from the Massachusetts State Lottery.Winner Stories, Massachusetts, Scratch Games, Won multiple times

A 19-year-old Bonita Springs man has claimed a $15 million top prize in the new Florida 100X the Cash Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee.Florida, Winner Stories, Scratch Games

The Iowa Lottery has won an international gaming-compliance award for its work in the long-running lottery jackpot investigation that uncovered fraud against U.S. lotteries and resulted in guilty pleas from three men.Legal, Iowa, Hot Lotto, Scandal, Technology, Security, Computerized Drawings, Investigation, Fraud, Award, Crime, Multi-State Game

A Kansas woman who bought three scratch-off lottery tickets skipped one because she thought there wouldn’t be two winners in a row — but she was wrong.Winner Stories, Kansas, Scratch Games, Won multiple times