46 PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL • MAY/JUNE 2024 NORTH AMERICAN NEWS Ryan Mindell has been promoted to Executive Director of the Texas Lottery Commission effective immediately The five-member Texas Lottery Commission today announced that Ryan Mindell, the agency’s Deputy Executive Director since September 2022, has been promoted to Executive Director, effective immediately on April 18, 2024. As Executive Director, he will oversee the agency’s mission of responsibly generating revenue to support public education and veterans’ services in Texas. “With a unanimous decision, we are proud to appoint Ryan Mindell as the Texas Lottery Commission’s newest Executive Director,” said Robert G. Rivera, Chairman of the Texas Lottery Commission, on behalf of the Commission. “In his time with the agency, Ryan has demonstrated strong leadership while putting together an impressive track record in the lottery industry. He brings a breadth of experience, knowledge, and innovative ideas to this role. We are confident that his appointment to Executive Director will sustain the integrity, strategic leadership, and growth of the agency, which is critical for its mission.” “I’m honored and thrilled for the opportunity to take on the role of Executive Director of the Texas Lottery Commission,” Mindell said. “Having been part of the agency in many capacities, I know first-hand the strength of our dedicated staff. I am eager to build on the success we’ve had through continued collaboration with the Commissioners, our vendor partners, and our stakeholders, while maintaining the commitment to the agency’s mission and making a positive impact on its beneficiaries.” Mindell is a leader in the lottery industry, receiving the prestigious North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL) Powers Award in 2023 for making significant contributions to the lottery industry through exceptional job performance, and has frequently presented at national meetings and conferences. Mindell works with NASPL, industry vendors and other lotteries to lead modernization efforts in the North American lottery market, most notably in developing a universal lottery API (Applied Program Interface). Mindell holds a Juris Doctor degree and a master’s degree in psychology from Duke University. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Khalid Jones appointed Virginia Lottery Director Khalid Jones brings a unique blend of law, technology, and innovation to the role. Khalid’s career has spanned roles as founding partner in a boutique investment firm with a strategic focus on real estate, media, sports, and technology, and a decade-long tenure as an attorney specializing in securities litigation. Most recently, as part of his business practice, Mr. Jones has become one of the nation’s experts in licensing consulting, providing legal and strategic advice to state and national lottery organizations providing the expertise to lead Virginia's lottery system at a crucial time of growth and expansion. A proud alumnus of Wake Forest University and Stanford Law School, and his passion for addressing challenges with innovative solutions will guide the Virginia Lottery to new heights of success and integrity. Massachusetts Lottery Executive Director Mark Bracken asks state lawmakers to allow his agency to operate online lottery games and sell tickets via the internet to people aged 18 and older who are physically located within the commonwealth The Powerball® jackpot worth $1.326 billion has been won in Oregon The jackpot has a cash value of $621 million. The Power Play® multiplier was 3X. “Winning the Powerball is not just about hitting the jackpot, it's about the power to make dreams a reality and to create positive change in the world,” said Drew Svitko, Powerball Product Group Chair and Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director. “Lottery games, like Powerball, generate proceeds that are used to do so much good work in local communities across the country. Thank you to our players and retailers for helping us make a lasting impact from this jackpot run.” The lucky ticket holder will have the choice between an annuitized prize of $1.326 billion or a lump sum payment of $621 million. Both prize options are before taxes. If the winner selects the annuity option, they will receive one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5-percent each year. Even though the jackpot was won by a single ticket, participating lotteries are reminding players to check their tickets for one of the nine ways to win. Nationwide, the Powerball drawing produced more than 4.5 million winning tickets, including seven tickets that matched all five white balls to win $1 million prizes. The $1 millionwinning tickets were sold in Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan and Wyoming. There were also 81 tickets that won $50,000 prizes, and 26 tickets that won $150,000 prizes. Note: In California, prize payout amounts are pari-mutuel and determined by sales and the number of winners. Iowa lawmakers asked to ban online courier sales of lottery products State officials are asking legislators to ban private “courier” or “concierge” companies from selling Iowa lottery tickets and games online. Tyler Ackerson of the Iowa Department of Revenue said businesses called lottery couriers are operating websites and smart phone apps. “Customers sign up on there, fund their account, and then the courier uses that money to purchase lottery products on behalf of that customer,” Ackerson said. “These lottery couriers typically partner with a business who sets up a stand-alone, brick and mortar location that becomes a licensed lottery retailer and then all of those lottery products are purchased through that location.” PULSE of the Industry These news stories comprise a very small fraction of the gaming and lottery news stories posted every day to PublicGaming.com. Too, these stories are the highly edited short versions. You can visit our news website PublicGaming.com and access all of its departments for free, including search to read the full version of the articles. Sign up for our free e-newsletter by sending your e-mail address to sjason@publicgaming.com.
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