Todd Betzold
News writer
Todd is a freelance writer who has always had a love for all things Lottery.
Todd has been creating a variety of content for over 14 years, and his first paid writing job was covering the first season of The Voice! He has always had a love for gambling, whether it was playing poker with his family as a teen or hitting up the casino when he was old enough to get in. Now, he gets to write about it, so even better! Based out of Michigan with his partner and fur baby Luka, Todd enjoys movies, streaming too much Netflix, spending way too much time at the casino, and hoping to be the next billionaire winner of the Powerball or Mega Millions!
- Hometown
- Born in Bay City, Michigan, currently living in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
- Education
- Bachelor's degree in Broadcasting and Journalism from Central Michigan University
- Professional work experience
- Todd has been creating a variety of content for over 15 years, and his first paid writing job was to cover the first season of The Voice!
- Certification and awards
- Google Ad Certification
- Languages
- English
In Todd's own words...
What I like about working for Lottery USA
Todd has always had a love for gambling, whether it was playing poker with his family as a teen or hitting up the casino when he was old enough to get in. With Lottery USA, he gets to write about what he loves to do! In addition, Todd is a true crime lover, so he has been able to work his love for crime into covering news stories involving the lottery.
What most excites and intrigues you about the lottery?
Since joining Lottery USA, I have been able to learn a lot more about the different lottery games offered throughout the country. While I was familiar with my in-state games and the big multistate games, learning about what other states offer is an interesting part of the job.
Best run US state lottery?
I am biased here, but I have to say Michigan. We offer great games and a wide variety, so there is something to play on a daily basis, with some pretty good jackpots available for each one.
What’s your most memorable lottery moment?
I'd say one of my most memorable moments was turning 18 and finally being able to buy lottery tickets myself. Walking up to the counter and buying an instant lottery ticket. Of course, not winning on it, but hey, that would have made an even better memory, huh?
What would you do if you won the Powerball jackpot?
If I were to win the Powerball jackpot, I think I would go into hiding for a while and figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I would definitely pay off all my debt. I would give some money to my close friends and family so they can live comfortably. I would then do a lot of traveling, as that is something I have always wanted to do and never been able to do. Where's Todd? Probably on some tropical island, so good luck finding him!
Can you share an interesting fact about yourself?
I used to weigh over 360 pounds! After finally deciding to get my health in order, I lost over 140 pounds. I have successfully been able to maintain that weight loss for the past five years and in October 2024, I ran a half marathon. Needless to say, that race was a little emotional for me, but the hard work and determination paid off for me.
Todd's latest articles
832 articles-
Lottery growth slows in Tennessee, raising funding questionsRevenue is still rising, just not fast enough to match expanding programs and growing demand statewide.
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Louisiana Lottery marks 35 years with new games and big prizesThe rollout includes five new tickets, Fast Play games, and a second-chance promotion for players.
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$167M Powerball winner's arrest streak continues as legal issues pile upAnother arrest adds to a growing list of legal issues since his 2025 win.
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Lotto America jackpot tops $20M for just fifth time everThe last win came in early August — now the jackpot is building serious momentum.
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Employee accused of swiping $2K in lottery tickets from American LegionInvestigators say stolen pull tabs and prize money added up over multiple shifts.
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Millionaires pop up across California as Powerball jackpot growsA near-jackpot ticket in Torrance and multiple big scratcher wins sparked a statewide payday surge.
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Fraud charges filed after lottery sales come up thousands shortInvestigators say gaps in tracking and surveillance may have allowed the alleged scheme to go unnoticed.
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New movie 'The Lottery' turns $300M win into deadly gameA weekend getaway turns tense when a winning ticket sparks secrets, rivalries, and survival stakes.
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Maryland Lottery rolls out art-inspired games & BIG SPIN returnsChosen from over 2,000 entries, four artists take center stage as new games hit stores with prizes up to $250K.
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Online lottery sales expand as states eye 2026 growthNew bills, bigger platforms, and fresh debates are reshaping how players join in.
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$1.08B Powerball lawsuit dismissed, closing door on massive claimAfter multiple filings, the court found the claims lacked enough substance to proceed.
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Maryland man charged after $10K lottery ticket theft spreeAuthorities say some of the stolen tickets were cashed in, helping link the suspect to both crimes.
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Arizona player finds $6.7M 'pot of gold' in The Pick drawingThe winning ticket was sold at a Phoenix grocery store just days before St. Patrick's Day.
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Indiana's new sweepstakes ban could shake up online playCritics call it a missed chance for regulation. Could the state lottery gain new players from the ban?
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$1M dreams return as Florida Lottery revives Millionaire RaffleWith 2M tickets available for purchase, the more tickets sold, the more $1M prizes the lottery will add.
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Two high-profile lottery crime cases end with sentencesOne made headlines after a $167M Powerball win, the other helped run a $3M lottery fraud scheme.
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Why was there a delay in last night's Powerball drawing?The numbers appeared roughly 50 minutes later than usual, after an 'issue' caused the delay.
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What AI could mean for state lotteries and online playersFrom spotting bots to flagging unusual play, new tools could reshape how lotteries monitor games.
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Buy now, pay later: The next lottery trend?The rise of installment apps is changing spending habits. Is this next for state lotteries?
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Player hits $2.4M Texas Two Step jackpot, 2nd biggest in game historyThe prize started at $200K and has been growing for weeks, making it the longest prize run since 2006.
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Viral story reveals fallout from family's $80M lottery winThe Texas woman describes threats, hotel stays, and a family torn apart after the massive win.
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Gambling questions could soon join routine doctor visitsExperts say screenings may help detect addiction as betting participation surges across the U.S.
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South Carolina FedEx driver accused of taking lottery ticketsInvestigators allege a package of scratch-off tickets never reached its stop after a delivery detour.
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SuperLotto's biggest jackpot in 5 months hits in SoCalThe $32 million jackpot is the largest the game has seen since October 2025.
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Lottery terminals go dark at two North Carolina storesState officials seized terminals and instant tickets following a contract violation tied to a recent plea.
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Police swarm Virginia Lottery offices over a suspicious packageCapitol Police shut down downtown streets before clearing the scene and reopening the building.
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Carnival unveils first-ever fleetwide cruise lotteryDaily electronic draws offer onboard credits and a potential seven-figure jackpot.
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HotWins launches in Illinois with rapid-fire drawingsLottery officials say the new format offers draws every four minutes and a top prize of up to $1 million.
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Abandoned lottery ticket turns into $12.8M legal dramaCorporate leaders want clarity after a store-printed winner was later purchased by management.
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New Fast Cash game from Michigan Lottery packs 18 shots at a big winThe new $20 game launches on Feb. 22, adding a tripler twist and progressive prize plus $250K.
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