N.C. Gov. says lottery ads are 'annoying'

Feb 27, 2013, 10:49 am (10 comments)

North Carolina Lottery

State legislators are proposing to revamp the way money from the North Carolina Education Lottery is spent after statewide scrutiny of its advertising practices.

Gov. Pat McCrory suggested in his State of the State address last week that lottery money should be allocated to fund more technology in schools.

"I'm recommending that we pursue legislation to reallocate a portion of money away from the bloated and frankly annoying advertising and the large administration cost of the lottery commission, and we will use that money to directly help our students with technology," he said in the speech.

N.C. legislators have since acted on McCrory's suggestions and proposed a bill that would expand digital learning in the state's public schools. The bill currently sits in education committees in both chambers.

According to the bill, the State Board of Education would determine if school districts have improved students' performance by 2016 and then allocate funds accordingly.

But Van Denton, spokesman for the North Carolina Education Lottery, said he fears reducing spending on advertisements would decrease the lottery's revenue.

"The success of our sales depends on a good advertising program," Denton said.

Denton said the decrease in revenue would take money away from funds for education.

The lottery is allowed to spend 1 percent of its total revenue on advertisements and up to 8 percent on administrative costs, he said.

But he said the lottery only spends a total of 4 percent on both advertising and administrative costs.

Critics of the lottery claim it exploits poor people who overestimate the probability of winning and are duped by overly optimistic advertising.

Terry Stoops, director of education studies at the John Locke Foundation, said that though he does not support the lottery, the bill would grant more flexibility to local school districts and improve the way the money is spent.

"I think it's a good idea for them to move money around according to their needs," he said.

Rob Schofield, director of research and policy development at N.C. Policy Watch, said both progressives and conservatives should agree on more money being allocated to technology in public schools.

But he said to be effective, legislators need to include similar proposals in the state's budget that do not solely concern lottery money.

"If it's an important priority, we all have to contribute," Schofield said.

Daily Tar Heel

Comments

Ronnie316

I Agree! I don't know what AZ spends on advertising, but it must be HUGE considering all the flashy and mind blowing psychological pressure they apply on the general public with TV, bill boards, and print.

Tenaj's avatarTenaj

Did they mention that they proposed that the NC Lottery to be taken out of the hands of the Lottery Commission and put in the hands of the legislature.

mightwin's avatarmightwin

Geez get off the "poor" people are stupid and can't  understand the odds of winning.... critics of the lottery need to find a new slogan

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by mightwin on Feb 27, 2013

Geez get off the "poor" people are stupid and can't  understand the odds of winning.... critics of the lottery need to find a new slogan

I Agree!

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Quote: Originally posted by mightwin on Feb 27, 2013

Geez get off the "poor" people are stupid and can't  understand the odds of winning.... critics of the lottery need to find a new slogan

Thumbs Up

sully16's avatarsully16

Progressives and Conservatives ? interesting choice of words.

jamella724

I agree with Mr. Denton that the success of the sales depends on a good advertising program. I think that Gov. Pat McCrory must hate the lottery to be annoyed by the advertisement made. However such advertisement aid to boost the sales of the lottery.

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

It makes no difference what a politician says he's gonna do with money.

It's what actually happens with the money.

Always follow the money trail to get to the truth.

billionaire2bee

Quote: Originally posted by jamella724 on Mar 5, 2013

I agree with Mr. Denton that the success of the sales depends on a good advertising program. I think that Gov. Pat McCrory must hate the lottery to be annoyed by the advertisement made. However such advertisement aid to boost the sales of the lottery.

I think he's more annoyed he can't control it ....but I think he wants legislature to control it rather than an independent commission.....

jimmy4164

N.C. Gov. says lottery ads are 'annoying'

Governor McCrory better hope his lottery people don't get inspired by their PA counterparts fighting privatization by a foreign corporation.

Vacuuming Lottery Funds

 

I Love It!  Smile

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