
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
628 articles-
One lucky ticket in New York just hit a $17M LOTTO payday
The jackpot had been growing since January, but one ticket finally matched all of them last night in Syracuse.
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DC Lottery joins elite world group aiming for smarter, safer play
WLA perks include security, research, and integrity tools, but how will that shape your next ticket?
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New law could make the Pennsylvania Lottery more rewarding for players
A new law lowers the required profits rule. Will it mean more fun and more prizes for players?
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Employee blames whiskey and Tylenol PM for lottery ticket theft
Blaming the booze and the pills, the suspect claimed he blacked out, but the cameras didn't.
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Man pleads guilty to using stolen credit cards to buy $7K in lottery tickets
From Bad Axe to Battle Creek, this lottery scam stretched far, but justice caught up fast.
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Knife pulled in lottery fight over winning ticket
Police say the lottery ticket wasn't the only thing these men had on them. What else turned up during the arrest?
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Irish family in 'complete disbelief' after record €250M lottery win
They checked the ticket five times, hid it in the laundry, and plan to keep life simple — for now.
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Powerball player's $2M win started with a simple mistake
He thought his original ticket had expired and bought another. The result? Two $1M wins in one night.
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Convenience store employees accused of scratching without paying
Police say a quiet repayment deal turned into felony charges after over $5,000 in scratch-offs went missing.
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Weekend Cash 5 luck: Three winners, two states, nearly $4M
Jackpot fever hit New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with one player winning $2.77M and two others splitting $1.14M.
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The last bipartisan game: How state lotteries unify a divided America
Democrats and Republicans may disagree on everything except dreaming big with a state lottery ticket.
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Lottery Week kicks off July 13 — will your state deal you a winner?
From free plays to special bundles, Nebraska's rolling out the fun — is your state joining in?
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Lucky New York ticket delivers $1K a week for life win
This Bronx deli might be known for sandwiches, but now it's serving up a side of lifelong winnings.
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Norway opens full inquiry after lottery breaks gambling law
Norsk Tipping's glitch didn't just disappoint players — it violated the law and triggered national scrutiny.
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Lottery heist trio strikes again — now cops want your help to crack it
The suspects fled with stolen tickets again. But a sharp camera may be their undoing.
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Clerk pleads guilty in $9K lottery ticket scheme
She printed hundreds of tickets and cashed in the winners at the store across the street from her work.
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Quads, trips, and a countdown win big over the holiday weekend
If you ever thought repeating digits were too good to be true, think again — just ask these 26,000+ winners.
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How long would you wait to claim a giant lottery prize?
Some rush in. Some wait weeks. Why? From lawyers to nerves, the reasons may surprise you.
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Nine friends hit the lottery jackpot after a Wawa switch-up
They've played for five years, but decided to swap where they bought their tickets and won a $746K jackpot.
Todd Betzold