Tag Archives: state
Virginia Lottery Goes Online
Virginia Lottery Goes Online
The Virginia state lottery has dumped its daily televised drawings in favor of internet drawings in an attempt to cut costs and move into the 21st century. The Virginia lottery finally realized that most lottery players now check their numbers online. In January the Virginia lottery started internet only video streams for its daily drawings and its popular twice-a-week Win for Life drawings. Lottery officials expect the move online to save more than $1 million dollars in operating costs during the next fiscal year. Virginia is trying to deal with a $4 billion budget deficit. While the move online is primarily a cost cutting measure the lottery recognizes that most players now rely on online sources for lottery information. Virginia Lottery Executive Director Paula Otto stated, “The Internet is actually a more popular way of people getting their numbers now.”
Lottery officials report they have received a few complaints about the new policy, mostly from older people with no internet access or computer skills. An informal survey done by the Virginia lottery revealed that most states now use a combination of televised drawings and online feeds for drawings and most state lotteries also have lottery phone hot lines and email alerts for players to check lotto numbers. The executive director of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries said that most state lotteries are looking for ways to cut costs and operating expenses. Executive director David Gale stated, “State budgets are a mess. Forget about lottery budgets because they’re probably holding their own to tell you the truth.” Most states use lottery revenues for education, senior citizens, wildlife and tourism. Council of State Governments fiscal analyst Sujit CanagaRetna says he is not surprised by Virginia’s move. CanagaRetna stated, “States are looking at every possible way to corral some dollars together just to improve their bottom line. If you do a whole bunch of these little things, it could potentially add up to something significant.”
Lottery players, especially younger players, depend on the internet for information and are rapidly shifting to web based programming. The shift to online technology could mean that online lottery tickets may be the norm in the very near future. Illinois and Iowa are exploring the sale of online lottery tickets. At the present time Federal law prevents the purchase of lottery tickets online but that is expected to change soon. Massachusetts Democrat Barney Frank has sponsored a bill that would clear the way for the sale of online lottery tickets. Its about time lotteries embraced 21st century technology!
Arkansas Casinos
The state of Arkansas is a Southern state with a population of nearly 3 million. Arkansas’ capital city is Little Rock, where one of Arkansas’ casinos is located. The state of Arkansas is the only U.S. state with an official pronunciation (ar-kan-SAW), and the only state where diamonds are found naturally. There are not a large number of Arkansas casinos, but visitors to Arkansas can find gambling action in several places situated around the state.
One popular Arkansas casino is Cherokee Casino in Siloam Springs. This 50,000 square foot casino is open 24 hours a day and features a restaurant and a bar with live music. This Arkansas casino boasts 813 electronic gaming machines and over 40 tables for card games, roulette, craps and more-including 19 poker tables. One interesting feature of Cherokee Casino is that they offer poker games that are played against other players rather than the house. Cherokee Casino is an Arkansas casino worth checking out.
Another Arkansas casino, located in Holiday Island, is Spinzz Casino. This Arkansas casino was closed down because of gambling law disputes but has recently reopened for business. Guests visiting Spinzz Casino can stay at the nearby Spinzz Casino Hotel to be close to the action.
Though there are not many Arkansas casinos, there is a town with a rich casino history, which also happens to be former President Clinton’s boyhood hometown. Hot Springs, Arkansas, in addition to being celebrated for its naturally 140-degree mineral springs, was one of America’s original “sin cities.” The town was a meeting place for gangsters, but instead of shoot-outs and showdowns, crime families such as the Nittis and the Capones would come to Hot Springs to sit down and talk. Historic Arkansas casinos were rampant in Hot Springs, and despite their “illegal” designation, residents of the town insisted that the casinos were good for business. At its peak, Hot Springs served as a Mecca for gambling and tourists flocked to the colorful Arkansas casinos lining its streets.
Today there are fewer choices for Arkansas casinos. However, gamblers looking for great casino action can visit the exciting Cherokee Casino or the centrally located Spinzz Casino. Of course, online Arkansas casinos are always a great option for anyone! Despite limited availability, Arkansas casinos have a long and rich history and should not be overlooked by casino aficionados and casual gamblers. Visit an Arkansas casino today!