Watch CBS News

Man Convicted Of Rigging Iowa Lottery May Have Struck In Colorado

By Rick Sallinger

DENVER (CBS4) - The Colorado Lottery is investigating whether its lottery was rigged.

An Iowa man is now set to go on trial there in July. He's accused of buying tickets with numbers he knew would win in several states including Colorado, and then collecting.

When one plays the lottery it's expected the system is fair, but the state lottery is investigating if its system was rigged in the past by Eddie Tipton. He was the head of security for the Multi-State Lottery Association and created the system that generates the winning numbers.

Eddie Tipton
Eddie Tipton (credit: CBS)

Court documents allege Tipton bought a Colorado lottery ticket through a third party which paid out $568,990 which Tipton received in 2005. He then bought a house.

Colorado Lottery players were shocked when CBS4 told them about the case.

"I'm sad. Too bad people feel the need for that to steal," one woman said.

Tipton has already been convicted of rigging the Iowa Lottery and faces 10 years in prison. He told CBS affiliate KCCI, "Shocked, that's it," after being sentenced.

Eddie Tipton
Eddie Tipton outside of Federal court in Denver in December of 2015 (credit: CBS)

While appealing Tipton is now charged in connection with rigging lotteries in five states including Colorado. He faces up to 25 years if convicted in that case.

The Colorado Lottery had no comment on the case.

CBS4's Rick Sallinger is a Peabody award winning reporter who has been with the station more than two decades doing hard news and investigative reporting. Follow him on Twitter @ricksallinger.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.