About the Author
Drew Ellis
Get to know Drew Ellis
Prior to working for PlayiLottery, Drew was the Lead Writer at PlayMichigan, a regional site for Catena Media, since January 2022. In his time there, he handled coverage of casinos, sports betting, and lotteries – both retail and online – for one of the country’s leading online gaming states.
Drew has experience covering the gambling industries in Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, and Canada. Decades of media experience provide him with the background to handle the complexities of different lottery laws and policies around the country, as well as the expansion of iLottery in the US.
Award-winning, 20-year career in newspaper industry
Prior to working for Catena Media, Ellis spent over 20 years in the newspaper industry, covering sports and the gambling industry. His work for The Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun and The Oakland Press was recognized with awards by the Associated Press and other media organizations. Drew has also contributed to the Detroit Free Press and the Associated Press, while currently contributing to All Lions – the Sports Illustrated home of the Detroit Lions.
Drew Ellis interviewed as a gambling expert
- WILX – Detroit’s striking casino workers rally at capitol
- TV6 – As online wagering surges, MDHHS equips residents with tools to combat addiction
- MISportsNow – How to bet smart and safe come Super Bowl LVII
Some of Drew Ellis’ work as a gambling expert
- Michigan Lottery Online Instant Games Look Like Online Slots, But They’re Not
- Michigan Shatters Online Casino Revenue Record With $188 Million In February
- 5 Key Numbers Illustrate Michigan’s iGaming Revenue Growth
- Casino Revenue Bounce Back Crucial For Michigan Tribal Communities
- Live updates on the Detroit casino workers’ strike
- Exclusive Interview: MCGB Talks Cracking Down On Illegal Gambling In Michigan
- MGCB Collects Award For ‘Don’t Regret The Bet’ Ad Campaign
Social media and professional profiles
- Drew Ellis on LinkedIn
- Drew Ellis on Muck Rack
- Drew Ellis on X
- Drew Ellis on YouTube
- Drew Ellis on Facebook
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Latest articles
Scientific Games Utilizing Fast Play To Drive Up Lottery Sales Across US
Scientific Games is boosting multiple state lotteries across the US thanks to the success of its Fast Play products.
North Carolina Lottery Agrees To Deal With IGT; Adding Cash Pop In November
The NC Lottery has a new 10-year contract with IGT, started a pilot program with Scientific Games’ SCiQ systems, and will soon add Cash Pop to its listings.
Lotteries Not Worried By Declining Mega Millions, Powerball Sales In FY25
Powerball and Mega Millions sales are down early in FY25, causing many state lotteries to be below budget. However, many believe things will balance out.
Digital Instants Continue To Outperform Expectations For NC Lottery
The NC Lottery continues to see Digital Instants excel, as eInstant games are on pace for nearly $2.4 billion in FY25 sales after a strong debut in FY24.
Online Subscriptions Hit Record Sales In FY24 For North Dakota Lottery
The North Dakota Lottery has its own form of iLottery, utilizing “Pick & Click” for online subscriptions. In FY24, these sales reached a new record.
MA Lottery Wins NASPL Award For Mobile App With iLottery On The Horizon
The Massachusetts Lottery was recently recognized by the NASPL for providing the best mobile app as it’s preparing for an iLottery launch in 2025.
Jackpocket ‘Makes Things Right’ With CO Lottery Player Over Ticket Mix-Up
After a Colorado Lottery player received the wrong winning ticket she purchased through Jackpocket, the courier made sure she was compensated appropriately.
Montana Lottery Sets Yearly Record Behind Increasing Draw Sales
The Montana Lottery posted a new record by outperforming draw game sales in FY24, thanks to help from a couple of courier services in the state.
Michigan Lottery Aids State Police By Sharing AMBER Alerts At Retail Stores
The Michigan Lottery is now working with state law enforcement to display AMBER Alerts digitally at over 10,000 retail locations.
Scientific Games’ SCiQ Systems Giving Colorado Lottery Boost In Scratch Sales
The Colorado Lottery is seeing positive surges in scratch-off ticket sales after installing Scientific Games’ SCiQ vendor systems throughout the state.