Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaDecember 23, 2015

Higher Cash 3 and Play 4 sales, as well as increased scratch-off ticket sales, have led to a growth in Florida Lottery revenue, according to the state’s economic forecasters. Total ticket sales were $79 million over estimate for July-November of this year, the state’s Revenue Estimating Conference reported on Dec. 8. At the same time, […]

Jac VerSteegNovember 29, 2015

If Republicans Sen. Tom Lee of Brandon and Rep. Frank Artiles of Miami get their way, the Florida Lottery’s newest scratch-off game could be called MegaNanny. The two lawmakers have proposed legislation that would force the lottery to reduce the number and price of popular scratch-off games. Scratch-off tickets, The Palm Beach Post reports, generated […]

Jim RosicaNovember 20, 2015

Legislation is moving in the Legislature that would allow people to buy their lottery tickets at the gas pump despite a lingering question that the measure is an expansion of gambling. The question is more than moral or academic: Expanded gambling is a condition for the Seminole Tribe of Florida to stop sharing revenue from its […]

Guest AuthorNovember 12, 2015

During the upcoming Legislative Session there will be bills dealing with the Florida Lottery that can take the lottery in very different directions. One would bring sanity to an out-of-control form of gambling, while the other would allow people to finance their gambling addiction on credit – a dangerous direction for our state. Today’s lottery […]

Guest AuthorNovember 11, 2015

During the upcoming Legislative Session there will be bills dealing with the Florida Lottery that can take the lottery in very different directions. One would bring sanity to an out-of-control form of gambling, while the other would allow people to finance their gambling addiction on credit – a dangerous direction for our state. Today’s lottery […]

Ryan RayNovember 4, 2015

In a quick 20-minute hearing Wednesday morning, the Senate Regulated Industries Committee passed bills to allow lottery tickets to be sold in machines and to require cosmetics makers to register with the state. The Senate panel, led by Chairman Sen. Rob Bradley, an Orange Park Republican and former prosecutor, passed both bills without much debate. Sen. Jeff Brandes said […]

Jim RosicaOctober 30, 2015

State agencies on Friday presented their financial needs for next fiscal year in a series of public hearings at the Capitol. Executive-branch departments and others send in legislative budget requests, or LBRs, in advance of the regular session, when lawmakers draw up the budget for the next fiscal year. The 2016 Legislative Session begins Jan. 12. Here are […]

Peter SchorschOctober 7, 2015

Toby Philpot is leaving his chief of staff role at the Florida Lottery to take the same position at the Agency for Health Care Administration, according to AHCA Secretary Liz Dudek. Dudek announced the move in a departmental email on Wednesday. He replaces Jennifer Ungru, who left AHCA to become a “corporate affairs advisor” for Jones Walker […]

Associated PressAugust 30, 2015

When it came to the bottom line, there’s no question that Florida Lottery Secretary Cynthia O’Connell was a success. Under her four-and-a-half year tenure, O’Connell pushed up lottery sales to nearly $6 billion through an aggressive push of scratch-off tickets and an effort to expand sales to retailers who had previously resisted selling lottery tickets. […]

Jim RosicaAugust 28, 2015

Florida Lottery Secretary Cynthia O’Connell plans to resign as questions mount about her work habits, travel schedule and spending. Gov. Rick Scott announced O’Connell’s departure, which is effective Oct. 1, on Friday. O’Connell was appointed by Scott in February 2011. A press release from the Governor’s Office said she plans “to explore opportunities in the private […]

Tag: Florida Lottery
Image via AP.

Florida Lottery revenues on rise

Jac VerSteeg: Beware state’s MegaNanny game

Is it “expanding gambling” to sell lottery tickets at gas pumps?

Paul Seago: Florida Lottery should be constrained, not expanded

Paul Seago: Florida Lottery should be constrained, not expanded

Regulated Industries panel clears automated lotto tickets, cosmetics bills

Agencies present budget requests for next year

Toby Philpot leaves Lottery for AHCA

Lottery secretary’s success dwarfed by some work practices

Fla. Lottery secretary quits, Gov. Rick Scott names interim