A Buffalo, N.Y., company that told consumers they could buy winning lottery numbers will issue full refunds to Missouri residents and will cease to do business in Missouri under a court-approved agreement with Attorney General Jay Nixon.
An assurance of voluntary compliance filed in Cole County Circuit Court orders Multi-Plays of America Inc. to cease contacting Missouri consumers by any means, and to provide a full refund to any Missouri consumer who contacts the company and requests one. The company is also prohibited from selling or otherwise sharing contact information of any Missouri consumer, and must pay $2,000 to the Missouri Merchandising Practices Revolving Fund.
"The selection of numbers by the Missouri Lottery is a random process, and anyone who tells you they can predict what numbers will come up is purely guessing. You would be just as well off getting numbers from a fortune cookie," Nixon said. "But one thing is for sure: If anyone tries to take money from Missouri consumers by saying otherwise, eventually their luck will run out."
Nixon alleged that at least eight Missouri consumers paid Multi-Plays between $118 to $671 each, for a total of $2,330, for "recommended" numbers to play in the Missouri lottery drawing that the company claimed put them "one step closer to actually winning some money off your state lottery."
Sounds likes Missouri is really the show-me State and you better not make any claims you can't show them. Of course if any company could create a list of numbers that would give any one a step-up to winning a lottery, they would be the first to use it rather than selling it, that a scam that the State should have to identify for its citizens.
RJOh
Sounds likes Missouri is really the show-me State and you better not make any claims you can't show them. Of course if any company could create a list of numbers that would give any one a step-up to winning a lottery, they would be the first to use it rather than selling it, that a scam that the State should have to identify for its citizens.
RJOh
WHAT MADE THEM THINK THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH THAT?
GEE
In a way this is chilling as the same "laws" could apply to Lottery Post and other lottery web sites giving players a leg up on the game. However once one takes a look at what $149.00 for six months buys and how this company conned the elderly into allowing what was likely wire transfers or credit card payments from their account, I think there is a point where the government needs to step in.
With this link the state of Iowa provides us with a free look at the booklet this company sends you for your payment. Frankly I expected at least a wheel, but this is nothing more then a pure rip off.
It is kinda funny the state going on about how no one can predict the lottery because it's random and all, like they never heard of wheeling and winning lower tier prizes, they never define anything they say while protecting their money making schemes. Pot kettle black. BobP
http://www.state.ia.us/government/ag/latest_news/releases/june_2005/Multi-Plays%20BOOKLET.pdf
LP is nothing like Multi-Plays of America Inc. Basic LP memberships are free and Premium memberships include additional services like a homepage, e-mail, and access to lottery software and tools which would cost something even if gotten from else where.
They got some good picks on powerball.
LP is nothing like Multi-Plays of America Inc. Basic LP memberships are free and Premium memberships include additional services like a homepage, e-mail, and access to lottery software and tools which would cost something even if gotten from else where.
That really bites. Basically it means if you develop software to track the numbers and give predictions (as I have) you cannot then sell it at any price. Fortunately I have not yet offered my software for sale and after reading this I guess I better not think about marketing it ever. Even if you can prove the system made money in the past they could change the draw machine or add more balls, and suddenly the program is obsolete anyway.
That really bites. Basically it means if you develop software to track the numbers and give predictions (as I have) you cannot then sell it at any price. Fortunately I have not yet offered my software for sale and after reading this I guess I better not think about marketing it ever. Even if you can prove the system made money in the past they could change the draw machine or add more balls, and suddenly the program is obsolete anyway.
LckyLary if you developed software that really made money, why would you want to sell it to make money? What Missouri has said is you can't make false claims about your service or software to trick foolish people out of their money in Missouri. Most lottery software have a disclaimer telling the consumer that it's to be used for entertainment purposes only which make them legal.
LP is nothing like Multi-Plays of America Inc. Basic LP memberships are free and Premium memberships include additional services like a homepage, e-mail, and access to lottery software and tools which would cost something even if gotten from else where.
I thought I was clear on that . . . obviously LotteryPost isn't a scamster habitat . . . the point was . . . where is the pivot point . . . the dividing line between them and us in the eyes of the ADA and Judge? How fair a hearing would any of us get for our systems? As even a free system causes people to spend their money playing the lottery . . . remember paying for web access has been taken as consideration in some states for free lottery games in order to give their operators legal problems.
You don't have to be paranoid when the state is out to get you. BobP
In a way this is chilling as the same "laws" could apply to Lottery Post and other lottery web sites giving players a leg up on the game. However once one takes a look at what $149.00 for six months buys and how this company conned the elderly into allowing what was likely wire transfers or credit card payments from their account, I think there is a point where the government needs to step in.
With this link the state of Iowa provides us with a free look at the booklet this company sends you for your payment. Frankly I expected at least a wheel, but this is nothing more then a pure rip off.
It is kinda funny the state going on about how no one can predict the lottery because it's random and all, like they never heard of wheeling and winning lower tier prizes, they never define anything they say while protecting their money making schemes. Pot kettle black. BobP
http://www.state.ia.us/government/ag/latest_news/releases/june_2005/Multi-Plays%20BOOKLET.pdf
I think the difference may be that this company claimed to sell winning numbers for lotteries. A wheel is nothng like that; merely a large "net" (as large as you want) where you then hope that the numbers you have are caught in it. Very different than claiming that certain numbers will be drawn.
And LP is nothing like the situation of this company. LP is more like a BBS where people trade information. Some have better info than others, but there is no one out there that can predict winning numbers for a fact. Occasionnaly we get a newbie that starts spouting that he can...but a credit to the LP people, such people are mostly ignored, and they usually disappear once they cannot prove their claims.
I suspect the problem here was that this company claimed to offer "winning" numbers. Too strong, and it bit them in the butt. Good to see as far as I'm concerned.
Sounds like Missouri, the show-me states, has challenged these companies claiming to be able to predict the next winning numbers in a random lottery drawing to put-up or pay-up. It would be a great advertising stump if some of these companies could met the challenge rather than running away with their tails tucked between their legs. "We beat the Missouri Lottery" could become as important to selling a lottery systems as "Banded in Boston" was to selling a titillating book in the 60's.
For nearly nine years, until 2001, I delivered NY's "Lottery New$" magazine. AFAIK we were never sued for publishing losing numbers.
For nearly nine years, until 2001, I delivered NY's "Lottery New$" magazine. AFAIK we were never sued for publishing losing numbers.
Maybe if they had published some winning numbers, they would still be in business.
rj:
A number of things contributed to the demise of Lottery New$. It folded little more than three months after 9/11.