John Musgrave Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Lottery Sales Top $1 Billion

For the 13th consecutive year, West Virginia Lottery sales have topped the $1 billion mark.

Director John Musgrave said Tuesday the lottery posted $1.16 billion in total sales for the fiscal year that ended June 30. Of that sum, Musgrave said more than $500 million went to state coffers.

Musgrave said money transferred to the state included $254 million from racetrack video lottery, $187 million from limited video lottery and $41 million from traditional lottery products, such as scratch tickets.

Musgrave said during the lottery’s 29-year history, nearly $3 billion has gone to education, nearly $1 billion to tourism and $1 billion for elders.

New Betting Option for W.Va. Table Games Approved

The West Virginia Lottery Commission has approved the use of electronic touch screens at the state’s racetrack casinos as an option for betting on live table games.

     Commissioners previously allowed electronic touch-screen wagering on table games. The Charleston Gazette reports the option approved Thursday would let players bet from either the actual live table or from an electronic station.

     The system was requested by the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races but was approved for all four of the state’s racetrack casinos. Lottery Director John Musgrave hopes innovations such as the Rapid Fusion system will help them compete with new gambling complexes in Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

     The Lottery says table game revenues fell 36 percent for the first five months of the fiscal year.

Coal miner wins $1 million Powerball

A coal miner is the state’s newest millionaire after winning the West Virginia Powerball.

State Lottery Commissioner John Musgrave announced Monday David Feamster from Rupert is the latest one million dollar Powerball winner. He matched five numbers from last Wednesday’s drawing, missing only the Powerball number.

A father of three, Feamster and his wife say they already have plans for the money. He says they will donate to their church, pay off their mortgage and put some in savings.

His ticket was one of only three nationally to match five from that particular drawing and no one won the jackpot by matching all six numbers. Feamster bought his winning ticket at a gas station in Rainelle.