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More Arkansas lottery details emergeNews Story
Depending on how much money it collects, Arkansas' state-run lottery could fund college scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $5,500 annually under a draft bill released to lawmakers Wednesday. Discussing the draft in a legislative committee meeting, House Speaker Robbie Wills, D-Conway, said he and the other lawmakers who have been working on the bill believe scholarship amounts should be tied to the performance of the lottery, which is still unknown. We believe the bottom line is this: Th
Feb 26, 2009, 7:52 am - Lottery News

Arkansas lottery bill nearing completionNews Story
In Arkansas, the lottery is one of the biggest issues of this legislative session. Speaker of the House Robbie Wills filed the first bill related to the issue, but it didn't have much in it. That's all about to change. The speaker has been working on this very large document for months; in fact, he says he's learned more about how lotteries run than he ever thought he would. It's in two parts: how the lottery operates and how the scholarships are funded and distributed. The operation
Feb 24, 2009, 9:12 am - Lottery News

Details about Arkansas Lottery emergeNews Story
In a memo to House members late Monday afternoon, House Speaker Robbie Wills, D-Conway, provided an overview of draft legislation to create Arkansas' voter-approved lottery for college scholarships. As it stands now, the legislation which may be more than 100 pages when the final version is filed calls for net proceeds from the state-run lottery to fund a new scholarship program to be known as the Arkansas Opportunity Scholarship Program. A new division of the state Department of Higher Ed
Feb 10, 2009, 9:42 am - Lottery News

Arkansas lottery bill nearly ready for reviewNews Story
When lawmakers finally get their hands on the bill to create the Arkansas lottery, they may want to find a comfortable chair they'll be reading for a while. When it's filed, you will understand why it's taken so long, House Speaker Robbie Wills said in an interview in his office. It's going to be over 100 pages. Wills filed a shell lottery bill in the House before the session started, after voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment to create a state lottery to fund colleg
Feb 2, 2009, 3:24 pm - Lottery News

N.H. hopes to begin selling lottery tickets at Wal-MartNews Story
New Hampshire is looking to Wal-Mart as a possible way to help boost its lottery revenue. Lottery Director Rick Wisler said lottery machines in Wal-Mart stores could boost sales. Wal-Mart has resisted requests around the country to sell lottery products. But next year, Arkansas, where Wal-Mart is based, is starting its own lottery, and that has lottery officials everywhere thinking the development might encourage the retailer to change its mind. Gov. John Lynch last week called on the l
Nov 26, 2008, 8:21 am - Lottery News

Arkansas lottery bill is first legislation filed for 2009News Story
The first bill filed in the 2009 legislative session Monday carried symbolic weight and political heft but was scanty on substance. Incoming House Speaker Robbie Wills' one-page bill is a shell for what will become a bill to create and regulate state lotteries. It noted that voters approved the constitutional amendment this month and the revenue would be dedicated for college scholarships. This is appropriate that this be the first bill filed, said Wills, a Conway Democrat. It's an histor
Nov 18, 2008, 4:35 pm - Lottery News

Voters overwhelmingly approve Arkansas state lotteryNews Story
Voters have approved a measure creating a statewide lottery for Arkansas, overturning a ban set in the state's constitution since 1874. About two-thirds of voters supported the lottery measure championed by Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, which will fund college scholarships through ticket sales. About 36 percent cast votes against the measure. Halter has said a lottery would raise $100 million annually and likely would have scratch-off games and lottery drawings like other states. The Legislature w
Nov 5, 2008, 8:29 am - Lottery News

Arkansas Attorney General supports lottery, but cites cost concernsNews Story
Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel on Friday said he voted for creating a state-run lottery to fund college scholarships, despite concerns about how much it will cost the state to start up the games. McDaniel said he wants lottery revenues to pay for any additional lawyers his office may need to hire to address legal issues related to the games. McDaniel said he cast his ballot last week as an early voter. The lottery amendment appears on the ballot for Tuesday's general election.
Nov 3, 2008, 5:11 pm - Lottery News

Arkansas voters get first lottery-only proposalNews Story
Arkansas banned lotteries even before state lawmakers determined how to properly pronounce the state's name. The 1874 ban held through the era of Hot Springs' illegal casinos and their destruction at the hands of sledgehammer-wielding state troopers nearly a century later. In the time since, attempts to legalize a government-run lottery always included bringing back casino games or something else just as unpalatable for a state squarely in the nation's Bible Belt. Now, though, a proposal b
Oct 31, 2008, 7:24 pm - Lottery News

State lottery friends, foes prepare for voteNews Story
A proposal to fund scholarships through an Arkansas state lottery is keeping supporters and opponents busy as Election Day nears. Now that the state Supreme Court ruled the proposal can remain on the statewide ballot, Arkansas voters will get a chance to vote on a state lottery proposal supported by Bill Halter, Arkansas' lieutenant governor. Halter proposed a state constitutional amendment to create a state lottery to pay for college scholarships and teacher bonuses. Under the proposal
Oct 21, 2008, 10:30 am - Lottery News