An article in the Billings Gazette informs us that the North Dakota lottery, set to begin selling tickets this week, has already helped lottery retailers, ahem, get connected.

According to the story, the ND Lottery sent retailers terminals mis-printed with a toll-free number that connects to a phone sex line offering "live, one-on-one fantasy talk." Sounds like a sitcom setup:

LOTTERY RETAILER: I'm calling about the powerball.

BREATHY PHONE SEX VIXEN: So you want to party?

RETAILER: No, I have a question about the Powerball.

VIXEN: Sounds like you're ready for our all-swingers party. I'll just need your credit card number.

RETAILER: Look, I just want to know what balls came up.

VIXEN: Yours, if--.

RETAILER: No, I mean what numbers were printed on the balls?

VIXEN: Oooh, so you're into body modification.

RETAILER: (Click.)

Sigh. Alas, it seems the North Dakota lottery has headed off such hilarity; evidently, they've sent out stickers with the correct phone number to all retailers.

We can only hope the new stickers say: "To help your customers get lucky, call 877-XXX-XXXX."