
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.
Page 8 - Todd's articles
595 articles-
Record-high state jackpots heat up across the country
From Texas Lotto's $72M jackpot to Arkansas' $5M record-breaker, the weekend is packed with lottery excitement.
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New Jersey bill proposes raising lottery age to 21
The bill could end the 18+ exception for lottery and horse racing, bringing all gambling in the state to 21+.
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Man hits $100K Pick 4 jackpot thanks to four lucky 8's
The North Carolina man almost gave up playing 8-8-8-8, but sticking with it led to his biggest win yet.
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Mega Millions makeover: Will California play ball?
Mega Millions is changing, but will the California Lottery Commission vote to approve these changes?
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Man hits $1M Powerball prize after 10 years of weekly plays
For 10 years, a Michigan man bought one Powerball ticket weekly and his persistence turned into a big win.
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$10K lost in lottery scam spree targeting small shops
Using stolen credit cards, scammers are cashing in on lottery tickets across Michigan, officials warn.
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Granny scratches off a priceless prize with a lottery ticket surprise
A custom scratch-off ticket revealed the ultimate prize for Rose Bell: a great-grandchild she had prayed for.
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$32M Pick-6 jackpot finally won — was it your lucky numbers?
Last night's drawing crowned a big winner in New Jersey, the first jackpot win for the draw game since June.
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Big jackpot wins light up the weekend for lottery players
Pennsylvania saw back-to-back Cash 5 wins while Arizona celebrated a $2M The Pick jackpot.
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Powerball and Mega Millions both hit big over the weekend
Powerball crowned a $328.5M winner, while Arizona saw Jackpocket's biggest win yet, a $113M Mega Millions win.
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Another Gas World employee busted in scratch-off theft scheme
Two employees at separate locations admit to taking unpurchased scratch-off tickets totaling over $3,000.
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Virginia bill aims to shield $1M+ lottery winners from public disclosure
Prompted by harassment cases, the bill aims to safeguard winners while stirring debates on game fairness.
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Man arrested for snatching elderly woman's lottery winnings
An 83-year-old woman fought back as the suspect tried to steal her winnings in a store parking lot.
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Florida Lotto, Oregon Megabucks wins end long jackpot droughts
Florida ended a 46-draw streak with a $43M win, while Oregon broke a 35-draw run with a $4.4M win.
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Lotto America jackpot climbs to third-largest in game's history
With a jackpot soaring to $21.73 million, tonight's Lotto America drawing could make history.
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Man wanted for lottery ticket thefts caught trying to flee through window
A lottery ticket theft spree, 13 warrants, and a dramatic escape attempt ended in cuffs for the Springfield man.
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Court says $2M lottery win wasn't a team effort
A Surrey trucker kept his lottery win after coworkers claimed it was bought for their lottery pool.
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Fraudulent lottery deal costs firms $6.5M penalty
Two firms face hefty fines for misleading officials to win a DC lottery contract under false pretenses.
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NYC stores targeted in $7K lottery ticket thefts
Police are tracking gun-wielding suspects caught on camera fleeing with the stolen loot.
Todd Betzold