NEWS
By Nicole Fuller and Nicole Fuller,Sun reporter | August 7, 2007
The Maryland Lottery's sales for the past fiscal year topped $1.5 billion, a record high, marking the lottery's 10th consecutive year of sales growth, lottery officials reported yesterday. From July 1, 2006, through June 30, prizes paid to players totaled a record $919 million, an increase of more than $16.5 million over the previous fiscal year. And retailers earned more than $112 million in commissions, an increase of $9.4 million. The lottery will contribute more than $494 million in revenue to the state, slightly less than in the previous year.
NEWS
By Andrew A. Green and Andrew A. Green,Sun reporter | December 21, 2006
Bypassing three significantly lower bids, the state awarded a $2.1 million-a-year contract to WBAL-TV to broadcast lottery drawings, a move officials say will pay for itself in additional promotional exposure. WJZ-TV, which currently airs the lottery drawings, offered to continue for $1.25 million a year, and two other stations, WBFF and Maryland Public Television, also underbid WBAL. But lottery director Buddy W. Roogow said the WBAL proposal gives the state a unique opportunity to promote the lottery on television and its radio stations, WBAL-AM and WIYY-FM, known as 98 Rock.
NEWS
By STEPHANIE DESMON and STEPHANIE DESMON,SUN REPORTER | June 3, 2006
A new lottery sales system being installed at thousands of convenience, liquor and grocery stores statewide has experienced breakdowns of up to several hours at a time this week, officials said yesterday, causing frustration among store owners and heartburn for avid players in search of their daily numbers. Customers have let store owners hear their displeasure - especially those who can't play the popular Keno game. "You should see the looks on their faces," said John Christopoulos, an owner of Christo's Discount Liquors in Ferndale.
NEWS
By Michael Dresser and Michael Dresser,SUN STAFF | July 30, 2003
The Maryland Lottery inched to new records in sales and payments into state coffers this year, but its tiny gains left it short of the revenue expectations built into the state budget. The lottery agency released figures yesterday for the fiscal year that ended June 30 showing that sales increased $15 million to $1.32 billion - a 1.1 percent increase. The amount of money paid to the state increased slightly less than $1 million to $444 million, according to lottery Director Buddy Roogow.
NEWS
By Greg Garland and Greg Garland,SUN STAFF | December 19, 2002
State Lottery Director Buddy Roogow got a mostly sympathetic hearing when he appeared before a legislative oversight committee yesterday as it reviewed a highly critical audit report of his agency. While some legislators on the Joint Audit Committee raised questions about the findings, others defended Roogow's management of the agency. Legislative auditors had sharply criticized the lottery agency for serious management and oversight failures, and some of their findings were referred to state prosecutors for criminal prosecution.
NEWS
By Timothy B. Wheeler and Timothy B. Wheeler,SUN STAFF | April 20, 2001
Feeling lucky? The Maryland Lottery has come up with a new way for you to bet your money, patterned after the popular TV quiz show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." The game, to be unveiled April 30, is called Let It Ride. Lottery officials hope it will help fill the state's need for ever-increasing gambling revenues as player enthusiasm for the once-mighty Lotto wanes. Lottery Director Buddy G. Roogow said yesterday that he hopes the new game will draw new business by offering players a type of betting unlike any of the state-run numbers games elsewhere in the country.