The disappearing lottery jackpot

Much is being made across the various national media today about a report that some states are selling lottery tickets after the advertised jackpot has already been won. It stems from a USA Today story (media insight: Most stories start with a newspaper article) earlier this week.

About half of the 42 states that have lotteries — including Florida, New Jersey, Michigan and Tennessee — keep selling tickets after the top prizes are gone. The states say the practice is fair because lottery tickets and websites disclose the practice. Also, other prizes are available.

And Minnesota? “To your question – we pull all remaining scratch games in a game once the last top prize has been validated and awarded, to a player,” Minnesota State Lottery Director Clint Harris told me in an e-mail today.