Tennessee bill would prohibit sales of lottery tickets on Sundays

Feb 21, 2005, 1:09 pm (42 comments)

Tennessee Lottery

Lottery Post Exclusive:  Democrat duo wants to deny sales of lottery tickets on Sundays

Rep. Frank Buck, D-Dowelltown, and Sen. Doug Jackson, D-Dickson are sponsoring a bill that would forbid the sale of lottery tickets in the State of Tennessee on Sundays.

The measure is among the 2,337 bills filed in Tennessee's 104th General Assembly.

The bill specifies that ticket sales will be forbidden for an 18-hour period each week beginning at 12:00 a.m. on
Sunday and ending at 6:00 a.m. on Monday.

The act will amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 51, Part 1, relative to the sale of lottery tickets:

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-51-122, is amended by inserting
the following as a new subsection to be designated as subsection (d):

(d) No lottery retailer shall sell a lottery ticket or share between twelve oclock
a.m. (12:00 a.m.) on Sunday and six oclock a.m. (6:00 a.m.) on Monday of each week.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring
it.

James W. White, Executive Director of the Fiscal Review Committee, issued a Fiscal Impact Note, which indicates that net revenues of the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation will be decreased by up to $76,000,000 if the bill becomes law.

As a result, net lottery proceeds would be reduced by approximately $22,800,000 per year.  (Net lottery proceeds estimated at 30% of lottery sales revenue.)  This would reduce the amount that would otherwise be earmarked for lottery scholarships.

The estimates based on actual Sunday sales from July 4, 2004 to December 26, 2004.

Rep. Buck and Sen. Jackson will also propose a law requiring that the CEO of the state lottery be paid no more than the director of TennCare.

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

CASH Only

If it's from midnight to 6 am Monday, that's 30 hours.

Todd's avatarTodd

I think they're counting the allowable ticket sales hours, not the time on the clock.

KyMystikal's avatarKyMystikal

Yes but Scratch Off tickets can be sold anytime of the day.

Todd's avatarTodd

First, I'm not sure if scratch cards can legally be sold any time of day.  I haven't examined the Tennessee Lottery law close enough to know for sure.  However, even if they could be sold between midnight and 6:00 am, I don't know if that's significant for the intent of the story.

I was actually expecting Tennessee lottery players to be a bit outraged at this bill, rather than nitpicking the number of hours in the story.    I know if they tried to do something like that in NJ, players (including myself) would be all over it.  Maybe Tennessee players agree with such a law, and don't want to play on Sundays?

MADDOG10's avatarMADDOG10

 it's the same senerio of (2) politicians who cannot see past thier own noses, to spite thier face.who is going to make up the loss of revenue that sunday sales brings in. here is where the domino effect comes into play. not only will education suffer, but probably alot of other vital services will be effected as well from the shortfall. now, who is going to have to make up this loss, you say? why none other than the people of the great state of "tennessee", thats who.!

    if i lived in tennessee, i'd be ripping mad and would demand that they spell out specifically how they're going to make up this loss. well, what are you waiting for people?    get busy..!!!!! 

Littleoldlady's avatarLittleoldlady

I am outraged..they are again trying to legislate morality.  Those a******s on the hill can't formulate a budget so they need to leave the lottery alone..maybe one day, they may need to use it to bail out the state budget.at least it is working some what like it is supposed to. ..even if 75% of the first scholarships went to white females and 25% went to everyone else.  Tennessee legislators are terrible..we have the highest sales tax in the country and they have done nothing but sit on their collective butts and whine and grip about how much Rebecca is making. They steal more than that.  If I want to buy a lottery ticket on Sunday, that should be MY business..not theirs..and as far as Rebecca's salary goes, they should leave that alone, too.  We are hearing stories of where OUR congressmen used campaign donations to support their girlfriends and provide lavish parties for their kids..so give me a break with the stupidity. 

Todd's avatarTodd

 My sentiment exactly Maddog and Littleoldlady!

Littleoldlady's avatarLittleoldlady

I bet if u told those dummies they could charge sales tax on those tickets, they would just shut up!!!!!!!!!!!!  They sell beer and wine on Sunday in my county..so would u rather have a drunk or a scratcher?

LOTTOMIKE's avatarLOTTOMIKE

i just saw this and i think its idiotic and stupid,i live in tennessee and i'm gonna look into it believe that.all they are doing is hurting money that could go to the kids and then they are messing with peoples rights to play when they want to.these lawmakers get bored and start making all kinds of new laws to get voted on so it looks like they actually did something useful when really all they do is sit around and do nothing........

Rick G's avatarRick G

Well I don't like these Puritanical laws getting in our faces on Sundays.

I want to play midday draws in IL on Sunday (I feel sorry for the states that have no Sunday drawings) and I want to be able to buy beer before 12 PM on Sundays.  You should see my local liquor store at 12:01 PM on Sundays with a Bears game on and kick off has already happened but you're waiting in line to get your six-pack and everyone else in line is pissed off too because they're missing the game due to these Puritanical laws of gambling and drinking on Sundays.

Sorry, pals, I'm doing both on Sunday and if I have to go to hell I guess I better buy an asbestos suit with gloves that allow individual fingers to protract. 

 

Todd's avatarTodd

Good one Rick! 

MADDOG10's avatarMADDOG10

 yes sir buddy mike. nows the time to ruffle thier feathers.

       

LOTTOMIKE's avatarLOTTOMIKE

same here,you can't buy alcohol till noon on sundays...now if the lawmakers get their way you won't even be able to buy a lottery ticket.i wonder what they are so scared about,are they scared the preacher might buy a powerball ticket and win,lol

Rick G's avatarRick G

Thanks Todd.....I can say that 'cuz I'm headed 'there' and already have my bags packed....

But I don't play 666......at least not on Sundays.

PS...LOTTOMIKE...they'd have to tithe 10% to the coffers if they won....that's after paying off the Cadillac. 

Subscribe to this news story