The Florida Lottery is taking steps to try and protect lottery players from dishonest retailers and store clerks. The move comes after recent investigations revealed some store owners appeared to be beating the odds again and again and claiming numerous large prizes for themselves.
One retailer, who was selling Florida Lottery tickets from seven stores, appeared to be enjoying a particularly lucrative winning streak when he and his mother claimed 47 prizes, each one $1,000 or more, within the space of just three years. All seven stores are now banned from selling Florida Lottery products.
Forty-nine retailers have been suspended from selling tickets or been terminated from the program due to theft and other payment issues, and a new online video campaign is being utilized to encourage players to sign their tickets. Posters bearing the same message will shortly be appearing in lottery ticket selling locations.
Speaking in a video released last week Florida Lottery Secretary Cynthia O’Connell said: "The next time you play, sign every ticket immediately upon purchase. It's the surest way to guarantee you are the designated rightful owner."
The lottery is also reaching out to player via Twitter and a tweet posted on Wednesday, June 18, 2014, urged players to sign their tickets as soon as possible.
'Protect your Florida Lottery tickets by signing your name on the back side upon purchase,' the tweet reads. 'Every ticket, every time!'
