Pennsylvania Lottery

HARRISBURG - The Corbett administration said Friday that expanding Pennsylvania Lottery gambling to keno and online games would be key ways to produce more revenue from the $3.5 billion lottery system that funds programs for the elderly. The administration made the statement as part of an update on its talks with companies about privatizing the management of the $3.5 billion lottery system under a 20-year agreement. Asked about it Friday, Gov. Corbett would say only that the ideas were "on the table.

Revenue Secretary Dan Meuser is the state's tax collector, but he found himself being asked Tuesday evening about whether animals were disappearing because of natural-gas drilling. Meuser fielded a wide range of questions during an address before the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at the Hyatt at the Bellevue in Center City. He was there to try to explain Gov. Corbett's proposed $27.1 billion state budget, and talk about why mounting fiscal obligations and a sluggish economy have led to planned cuts in education and welfare programs.

Mega Millions no longer has one of the two biggest jackpots in these parts. A ticket purchased in Pomona, Calif., hit all the numbers drawn Tuesday night — 2, 14, 29, 53 and 55, with a Mega Ball of 31 — to win an annuity worth $32 million, or $24 million cash. As a result, Friday's annuity prize will be worth $12 million, the lump sum payout $9 million. That's smaller than the New Jersey Pick Six jackpot, which has been growing all year. It's up to $18.2 million (annuity)

Pennsylvania has a few new millionaires. At least, before Uncle Same takes his cut. Two players won $1 million in the latest Powerball and Mega Millions drawings, and another player hit for $1.28 million Monday night in Cash 5. Sorry, Philly fans, but they were all bought west of Reading. Wednesday's Powerball jackpot is up to $146 million for the annuity, $95.4 million cash, because no one matched all of Saturday night's numbers: 13, 14, 41, 49 and 59, with a Powerball of 14. Missing only the Powerball were tickets sold in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Tennessee and Texas.

Here's a roundup of the latest lottery news. Camden County ticket wins $872,215. A Jersey Cash 5 ticket sold at Liquor Ranch, 4950 Marlton Pike, in Pennsauken matched all the numbers drawn Monday: 8, 18, 22, 26 and 36. Delco ticket just misses Mega Millions jackpot. The $25 million top prize was won Tuesday night by single ticket purchased at a Mobil station on Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles. It matched all the numbers: 10, 11, 12, 14 and 24, and the Mega Ball of 6. Winning $250,000, though, was a ticket at a Rite Aid on West Lancaster Avenue in Ardmore.

Someone bought a Match 6 Lotto ticket in Montgomery County, and did. Match 6, that is. The payoff: $700.000. Before taxes. The place of purchase: Lukoil, 1450 Old York Rd., Abington. Monday's numbers drawn: 22, 26, 30, 37, 39 and 48. Thursday's jackpot: $500,000. Pick Six rises again in Jersey. No one has hit New Jersey's Pick Six since mid-December. With no winner Monday night, the jackpot climbs again, this time, for Thursday's drawing, to $15.6 million for the annuity, $11.5 million for the cash.

A group of SEPTA workers did indeed win the April 25 Powerball jackpot, the Pennsylvania Lottery will officially confirm on Friday, according to sources. A week ago, officials held a news conference at the Newsstand at the Gallery to reveal the winning ticket had been sold there. By midafternoon, reports were spreading that 48 jubilant SEPTA employees believed their office pool had the winning ticket. The jackpot was worth $172.7 million in 30 annual payments, or $107.5 million cash.

Anybody want some money? Some major lottery prizes, won by local tickets, are still looking to be claimed, according to the Pennsylvania Lottery. One ticket worth $250,000 expires this month. Here's a rundown, including two last-gasp chances and a handful of recent victories. Expiring soon: $250,000 won in Bucks County. The Mega Millions ticket was purchased for the April 29, 2011, drawing at the Acme Market at 2301 Pasqualone Blvd. in Bensalem. It matched the first five numbers - 9, 10, 11, 33 and 51 - but not the Mega Ball of 29. Because the prize expires on a Sunday, final chance to stake a claim in person is Friday, April 27, and last chance for a valid postmarked mailed submission is Saturday, April 28. Also expiring: $50,000 won in Montgomery County.

When it comes to creating a more secure financial future, there's just no substitute for planning ahead. That's exactly what Pennsylvania aims to do through Gov. Corbett's initiative to ensure Pennsylvania Lottery-funded programs for older adults can keep up with the huge wave of baby boomers nearing eligibility age. To be better prepared to serve those citizens, we're exploring establishing a private management agreement for the lottery....

HARRISBURG - Gov. Corbett is making the Pennsylvania Lottery the next frontier in his quest to privatize state services, saying Monday that hiring a private manager for the nation's sixth-largest lottery would bolster its ability to meet the rising demand for services from the state's growing elderly population. The move, immediately opposed by Democrats and the state's largest employee union, also may herald an expansion of lottery gambling, such as the addition of online ticket sales, keno terminals in bars or restaurants, and an aggressive search to add more lottery retailers.