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FLORIDA LOTTERY ANNOUNCES THE SUSPENSION OF 11 RETAILERS
TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Lottery today announced it has suspended the sale of its products at 11 retailers after an on-going investigation determined fraudulent activity may have occurred involving the sale or redemption of Lottery tickets. The Lottery has suspended sales at the following locations:
All lottery equipment was removed and game terminals were turned off at each store. The contract suspension of these retailers is temporary while the Florida Lottery continues its investigation. If the investigation findings show that a crime has taken place, the Florida Lottery will terminate the retailer's contract, and owners or employees of the stores could face criminal charges.
The Florida Lottery will not tolerate fraudulent activity by our players or retailers. Moving forward, the Lottery will publicize retailer suspensions through press releases and on the Lottery's website. These actions are part of the Lottery's on-going effort to heighten awareness of what we do as an organization to combat illegal activity. The Florida Lottery Division of Security and the Lottery's Inspector General will continue the investigation of these retailers, as part of our Retailer Integrity Program.
ABOUT THE FLORIDA LOTTERY
The Florida Lottery is responsible for contributing more than $26 billion to education and sending more than 650,000 students to college through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. The Florida Lottery reinvests nearly 98 percent of its revenue back into Florida's economy through prize payouts, commissions to more than 13,000 Florida retailers and transfers to education. Since 1988, Florida Lottery games have paid more than $37 billion in prizes and made more than 1,300 people millionaires. For more information, please visit www.flalottery.com.
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