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Proposal takes aim at Lottery sales pitch to teens
Washington Lottery: Proposal takes aim at Lottery sales pitch to teens
Some lawmakers want to prohibit the Washington Lottery from advertising to anyone under 21 after learning the agency wants to increase its sales to teenagers. The proposed advertising ban has been added to a House bill that would increase the gambling age to 21 in nontribal card rooms and minicasinos. The amendment tells the Lottery "to be a little more cautious," said Rep. Mary Helen Roberts, D-Edmonds, the bill's prime sponsor. Lottery spokeswoman Jacque Coe, said the agency's 2005-07 business plan, which calls for marketing the Lottery to teenagers, is legal and practical. The Lottery targets all adults as potential customers, including 18- to 20-year-olds, Coe said. Critics have taken some of the 25-page report out of context, she said. "As any prudent business, we need to look at the future and how to adapt our products to customer demand," Coe said. The Lottery business plan says the agency would pursue the 18- to 24-year-old market because it is "favorable towards the Lottery" and is "currently under served." Jennifer McCausland, director of Second Chance Washington, an advocacy group that supports raising the gambling age to 21, sent copies of the business plan to legislators last week after finding it on the Web site of the state Office of Financial Management. "I was appalled that our own state government could so ruthlessly target teenage gamblers and view them as the gambling population of the future," McCausland said. Rep. Steve Conway, D-Tacoma, chairman of the House Commerce and Labor Committee, said the amendment should warn Lottery officials that targeting teens is wrong. He called the overall bill "an appropriate first step" in addressing the state's gambling age, but he said further study is needed on the issue. The bill awaits a vote on the House floor before it can be considered by the Senate. Gambling opponents were disappointed when the state Lottery and horse racing were exempted last week from the House bill raising the gambling age. The original legislation would have increased Washington's minimum age for all forms of gambling from 18 to 21. Last year, the Washington Lottery posted $458 million in total sales, down roughly $20 million from the previous year, said a December report by the State Auditor's Office. The Lottery contributed $102 million to the state's education fund, nearly $2 million to the state's general fund, more than $4 million to King County, and $7.6 million toward stadium and exhibition funds, the report said. A similar Senate bill to raise the gambling age to 21 died Tuesday in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Seattle Times
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12 comments. Last comment 3 years ago by .
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United States
Member #380
June 5, 2002
11297 Posts
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| Posted: February 9, 2006, 9:54 am - IP Logged |
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If WA allows 18-year-olds to buy lottery tickets, then its advertising should include inviting 18-year-olds to play. I like that 18-20-year-olds would still be allowed to buy WA tickets.
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mid-Ohio United States Member #9 March 24, 2001 10032 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 9, 2006, 10:10 am - IP Logged |
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Sounds like the old argument about a teenager can be asked to die protecting rights he doesn't have. * What happens most *
* will most likely happen again *
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United States Member #24723 October 21, 2005 598 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 9, 2006, 10:17 am - IP Logged |
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18 year olds will likely be given that right if enough of them ask for it. They are old enough to vote and fight for their country, so... Who knows?
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United States Member #18141 June 28, 2005 672 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 9, 2006, 10:34 am - IP Logged |
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Well targeting younger population is ok but, they also have less money. So targetting the lower class goes with that. On the other hand I was gambleing by that age and it's a great joy that everyone should experience. It's a good things and bad thing but, on the other hand I like the point you can serve at 18 but, you can't get drunk till 21...messed up. I think personally society in general is addicted to to many things. I don't know for everyone but, I smoke cigs, and gamble. To addictions. Tied into one. People that drink might do all three. So it can be a very bad thing for a 18 year old to gamble in general but, no less worst really then a 21 year old. Just a opion PP P.S. Lower sales then last year. Washington.I belive it's a RNG????
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United States Member #2380 September 17, 2003 2064 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 10, 2006, 12:35 am - IP Logged |
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Stupid idea's like this are a shining example of what happens with one party rule. Too bad the dead can vote in our state otherwise things might change. This kind of nanny state mentality is unfortunately too common in WA state.
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memphis,tennessee United States Member #8005 October 15, 2004 11238 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 10, 2006, 4:15 am - IP Logged |
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tell me about it,the ford scandal here in memphis is something else.seems 13 dead voters voted in the election and ophelia ford and her family are all in the paper including allegations that the former mayor of atlanta gave money to the mayor of memphis under the table for political favors.another day.......
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Bethesda, Maryland United States Member #17193 June 6, 2005 432 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 11, 2006, 1:40 pm - IP Logged |
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tell me about it,the ford scandal here in memphis is something else.seems 13 dead voters voted in the election and ophelia ford and her family are all in the paper including allegations that the former mayor of atlanta gave money to the mayor of memphis under the table for political favors.another day.......  HAPPY SATURDAY "MIKE"....2/11/06
only 13...????..interesting number.....well, if they must pay 'TAXES'.....they should be allowed to do anything else they like.....afterall, they are the priviledged dead....
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United States Member #24723 October 21, 2005 598 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 11, 2006, 2:02 pm - IP Logged |
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tell me about it,the ford scandal here in memphis is something else.seems 13 dead voters voted in the election and ophelia ford and her family are all in the paper including allegations that the former mayor of atlanta gave money to the mayor of memphis under the table for political favors.another day....... HAPPY SATURDAY "MIKE"....2/11/06 only 13...????..interesting number.....well, if they must pay 'TAXES'.....they should be allowed to do anything else they like.....afterall, they are the priviledged dead....
"...the priviledged dead!" Libra926, I just love it! After all, it co$t$ a lot to put them away. Okay, I am a bit edgy about the win tonight.
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Sunny SW Florida United States Member #25708 November 5, 2005 4339 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 11, 2006, 4:45 pm - IP Logged |
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Sounds like the old argument about a teenager can be asked to die protecting rights he doesn't have. Agree 100%. I don't like to see anyone 18 or 38 killed in action, but if a young man or woman can defend our country, they should have the right to drink, vote, gamble and sign a contract. I actually don't like any type of lottery advertising or hype. I realize why they do it, but most people who are serious about playing already know there is a lottery in their state and what the jackpots are. I'd rather see the money for advertising going into the pockets of the winners, but that's not going to happen in the real world. I had a long discussion recently with a friend who is anti-advertising and tried to explain that tv, radio and newspapers would not exist without it. People don't ever want to be sold anything, which is why making commercials entertaining is so important. I've taken seminars where they teach that a good salesperson makes a client believe he came up with the idea in the first place after he's been sold something. Sales and advertising is really the transference of a belief system (that the product or service is good for you, so buy it) so perhaps targeting younger people to buy lottery tickets is feeding them the idea that it's possible to get wealthy by purchasing lottery tickets rather than working your butt off for 40 years, and we all know that's not a healthy or realistic way to think. Most ads are aimed toward a younger crowd, even those who can't buy the product so they'll be thinking about it. Commercials never show the down side of anything of course. I mean, they only show successful and beautiful people in most of the ads for liquor because showing a homeless alcoholic wouldn't encourage anyone to go out and buy a bottle of Bailey's!
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memphis,tennessee United States Member #8005 October 15, 2004 11238 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 13, 2006, 8:26 am - IP Logged |
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18 year olds will likely be given that right if enough of them ask for it. They are old enough to vote and fight for their country, so... Who knows? i couldn't agree with you more.who knows it could happen....
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kent, washington United States Member #3576 January 26, 2004 353 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 14, 2006, 5:11 pm - IP Logged |
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well i live in the state. i just finished sending my three state representatives my piece of mind. i want them to market to the 18 to 24 year olds. they are old enough and they can make their own decisions. here is what i wrote to them. -->>i feel the lottery should be allowed to market to the 18 to 24 year olds through out the state. if they are old enough to make deciisions like this for the good and the bad. i feel the state has the right to market to them. if you raise the age to 21 then market to the 21 to 24 year olds. <<-- may not get far but it is democracy at it's best. i did try.
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United States
Member #380
June 5, 2002
11297 Posts
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| Posted: February 20, 2006, 12:52 pm - IP Logged |
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The $365m Powerball winner (or a member of a pool) could be a 19- or 20-year-old from Iowa. That would be very interesting.
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