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Iowa Lottery: Is it being run as a criminal enterprise?

By Steve Lombardi

The Quad City Times published an editorial on Friday, April 24, 2009 that raises the question about whether Iowa lottery officials should be fired for not anticipating, investigating and then addressing the fraud that is rampant in the system. Anyone playing the lottery needs to read the Ombudsman's report investigating the Iowa lottery system and how a few very lucky people seem to be beating the odds of winning.

Report calls lottery fraud a sure thing, Quad City Times, April 24, 2009

No hedging here. Some Iowa retailers are committing fraud and the Iowa Lottery has been ignoring it. Examples in his 218-page report are overwhelming:

A convenience store manager was charged with first-degree theft in connection with the 2007 theft of $45,204 in tickets and cash from a Pull-tab vending machine. The same manager had claimed 17 prices totaling $33,290. Despite the charges, the Iowa Lottery investigated none of his prior prize claims.

The owner of a different retail store reported the theft of some $86,000 in lottery tickets by four employees. The lottery's investigator dropped the probe without interviewing a single key witness. The ombudsman says the investigator mistakenly claimed a lack of jurisdiction.

The ombudsman found three examples where retailers improperly withheld hundreds of dollars in prize money from customers trying to redeem $1,000 winning tickets.

The list goes on and on.

The way the lottery is being run it is shameful and borders on supporting a criminal enterprise. Until there is a thorough investigation with criminal charges filed and convictions you should run as fast as you can away from the Iowa Lottery. Maybe the scratch game they should be playing is one called integrity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X71kv29gXmY

Iowa Ombudsman is William Angrick,

Taking Chances On Integrity, An Investigation of the Iowa Lottery

The Office of Citizens' Aide/Ombudsman serves as an independent and impartial agency to which citizens can air their grievances about government. By facilitating communications between citizens and government and making recommendations to improve administrative practices and procedures, the Ombudsman promotes responsiveness and quality in government.

The Ombudsman has authority to investigate complaints about Iowa state and local government, with certain exceptions. The Ombudsman attempts to resolve most problems informally. Following an investigation, the Ombudsman may make findings and recommendations and publish a report.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on May 06, 2009 (boomark / email).