
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
617 articles-
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.
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Don't declare independence from your numbers — July 4 draws are on
Drawings won't take the day off, but your prize claim may have to wait until after the parade.
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Swipe to play? South Carolina Lottery adds debit option for ticket buyers
Retailers can opt in, but some say card fees may not be worth the jackpot.
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$348M Mega Millions win makes history in Virginia
Virginia helped create the game in 1996, and now it's back on top with the biggest Mega Millions jackpot win.
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Man allegedly gave himself $2K in lottery tickets
Caught on camera with a book of tickets and a coin in hand, but was this a one-time gamble or a pattern?
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Burglar breaks into store, swipes armfuls of lottery tickets
An alarm brought police rushing in, but the thief had already made a clean getaway for now.
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Suspects pull wild lottery heist after trying to pay with gift card
The strange scam may be linked to other thefts, and it's left police and lottery officials on high alert.
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Arizona caps bulk buys on Fast Play tickets in new lottery rule update
A new $50K-a-day rule targets ticket hoarders to keep Fast Play games fun and fair for all players.
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Texas Lottery faces countdown after Gov. Abbott signs sweeping new law
The law rewrites the rules for players with no more mobile purchases and a possible end to the game by 2029.
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Florida Publix strikes again with $1K-a-day Cash4Life lottery ticket
A Stuart shopper scored big in the June 23 drawing as Publix racks up a fourth major win in 2025.
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Five-ball jackpot streak rolls on with $792K weekend Cash 5 win
The jackpot streak didn't stop at three states; Pennsylvania's Cash 5 win took it into the weekend.
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Five-number draw games score jackpot wins in 3 states on the same night
From $180K to $472K, players in Nebraska, New Jersey, and South Carolina are a whole lot richer.
Todd Betzold