Championship Wager: Lottery President Bets on the Saints

Editor's Note:  The votes are in and the boys in black and gold prevailed!   An overwhelming 57 percent of our Facebook fans voted to see Hoosier Lottery President Kathryn Densborn sing "When the Saints Go Marching In" in front of Lucas Oil Stadium while wearing a Saints jersey.  A Drew Brees jersey and other "lagniappe" items are on their way to Indiana right now!  Be on the lookout for a video of Densborn's performance coming soon!  Go Saints!

With less than a week until the big game on Sunday, Saints fans are making bets and Louisiana Lottery President Rose Hudson is no exception. She challenged her cohort in Indiana, Hoosier Lottery President Kathryn Densborn, to a friendly championship wager with each agreeing to submit themselves to the opposing team's traditions should their own team lose.  Fans will get to see the whole scenario play out online.

"I'm so confident that our boys in black and gold will win that I have agreed to consume a plate of Indianapolis fried tenderloins and homemade root beer in front of the Superdome wearing a Indianapolis Colts jersey and singing 'Back Home in Indiana' if they don't!" exclaimed Hudson.

In turn, if the New Orleans Saints win the championship game, Densborn will have to do one of the following: second-line in front of Lucas Oil Stadium with a Mardi Gras umbrella wearing a Saints jersey, eat a raw oyster for every touchdown the Saints score during the game or sing "When the Saints Go Marching In" while wearing a Saints jersey in front of the Colts' stadium.  Fans will decide to which challenge she must submit by voting for their favorite on the Lottery's Facebook page, which just launched last week.

The votes will be tabulated on Sunday, right before kickoff.

As victory spoils, the "losing" lottery will videotape their leader performing the task and provide it to the "winning" lottery for posting on their Web site.

"The lottery industry thrives on collaboration and sharing," explained Hudson. "We're in a unique position to do that since we all have similar products but aren't competitors. This friendly challenge arose out of this spirit. It's also a great way to connect with our players and get them rallying around our home team and our brand."

Both the Louisiana Lottery and the Hoosier Lottery launched NFL team-themed scratch-off games this football season. The Lottery's Saints game sold out in December. Fans have until April 13 to send in their nonwinning tickets from that game for the chance to win 2010 season tickets, autographed merchandise, lunch with the Saints' head coach and more.

Lottery ticket purchasers must be at least 21 years of age. Anyone with a gambling problem or friends of anyone with a gambling problem are encouraged to call toll-free 1-877-770-7867 for assistance. For security purposes, the Lottery recommends that players sign the back of their ticket after purchasing.