After a more than 20-year battle, lawmakers needed a tie-breaker to finally pass their lottery bill. When they got it, opponents quickly cried out.
"I think we have one senator at home recently being hospitalized in bed we have another one who is on his honeymoon because he postponed it," said N.C. Sen. Andrew Brock, R-Davie.
But N.C. Gov. Mike Easley, a long time lottery supporter, praised the new state game.
"Today I sign the North Carolina Education Lottery Bill and today we begin building one North Carolina," the governor said.
As the fire calmed down, a lottery commission was picked. But following just one meeting, the controversy returned when Commissioner Kevin Geddings quit after it was discovered that he was a paid consultant by a lottery vending company.
"The commission members had to sign an ethics conduct code and all the members signed, including him, but he did not disclose what contacts he had and what he did," Easley said.
Meanwhile, after interviewing six candidates, the commission hired the man who will run the state's first numbers game.
"One of the first things we'll have to do is hire some people," said N.C. Lotto Executive Director Tom Shaheen after he came to his post. "We're going to need some people who have lottery experience but the bulk of the people will probably come from North Carolina."
Shaheen will make $235,000 a year for his work. The lottery is expected to bring in up to $400 million a year for education that includes scholarships, class size reduction and school construction.
"The largest concern that we have is the impact that easy access to gambling the accessibility to buying lottery tickets is going to have on the public as several of the commissioners recognize," said John Rustin, of the N.C. Family Policy Council.
Shaheen hopes to have the lottery up and running by April, and he gets a $50,000 bonus if he does.
The Powerball game should be up and running by July.
The lottery commission and director still have plenty of work to do by April. They must pick a company to run the games. The state must also sign up thousands of retailers to sell the tickets.
Lottery Post news stories about the North Carolina Lottery in 2005
- 12/28/2005 N.C. Lottery commission approves contracts for potential retailers
- 12/28/2005 Lottery company misses bid deadline
- 12/26/2005 N.C. Lottery misunderstandings could derail bonds
- 12/26/2005 Lottery: Promises and pitfalls
- 12/21/2005 S.C. Laments N.C.'s Move To Powerball
- 12/20/2005 N.C. lottery hires have connections to Ga. and a Senator
- 12/20/2005 N.C. Lottery to join Powerball
- 12/16/2005 Group sues to stop N.C. lottery
- 12/16/2005 Scientific Games to be allowed to bid on N.C. Lottery deal
- 12/13/2005 Group Expected To File Lawsuit To Stop N.C. Lottery
- 12/13/2005 N.C. lottery director names security office director
- 12/09/2005 N.C. Lottery commissioner says games are 'on track'
- 12/09/2005 N.C. Lottery plans expensive personnel moves
- 12/07/2005 N.C. lottery director expects multi-state game by July
- 12/07/2005 N.C. Gov. answers lottery questions
- 12/05/2005 Tenn. Lottery leaders offer look at future
- 12/02/2005 N.C. Lottery panel trip may violate open meeting law
- 11/23/2005 N.C. resident speaks out against computerized lottery drawings
- 11/23/2005 Lucky Break: Co-workers win lottery
- 11/23/2005 N.C. lottery startup will be no April Fool's joke
- 11/18/2005 New N.C. Lottery chief says integrity of games is important
- 11/17/2005 N.C. lottery commission hires former New Mexico chief to run game
- 11/16/2005 N.C. Lottery mum on naming of new director
- 11/15/2005 N.M. Lottery Director Resigns; Could Become N.C. Lottery Chief
- 11/15/2005 Third N.C. Lottery commissioner resigns
- 11/14/2005 N.C. Lottery may announce director Thursday
- 11/11/2005 Editorial: The state lottery, starring...
- 11/08/2005 N.C. Gov. says lottery can overcome setbacks
- 11/08/2005 N.C. Lottery ticket plan may kill video poker
- 11/08/2005 N.C. Lottery may need bigger consequences for lapse in ethics
- 11/03/2005 Hunt for N.C. lottery director pared to 4
- 11/03/2005 Former UNC-C Chancellor Named To N.C. Lottery Commission
- 11/03/2005 Scientific Games faces criminal investigation
- 11/01/2005 N.C. lottery director candidates to be interviewed next week
- 10/28/2005 N.C. Lottery's image takes hit
- 10/26/2005 Charlotte wants limits on N.C. lottery sales
- 10/26/2005 N.C. Lottery commissioner resigns
- 10/26/2005 N.C. lottery ticket sales might begin in April
- 10/18/2005 N.C. Lottery hunts for online identity
- 10/17/2005 Questions rise about N.C. lottery access
- 10/17/2005 Help Wanted: NC Lottery Seeks Director
- 10/14/2005 Scientific Games wrote parts of N.C. lottery law
- 10/14/2005 N.C. lottery now has official Internet site
- 10/06/2005 N.C. lottery commissioner had business relationship with vendor
- 09/26/2005 N.C. lottery commission has full plate, rapid timeline ahead
- 09/26/2005 First N.C. lottery commission in place
- 09/20/2005 Anti-lottery group considers legal challenge to N.C. Lottery
- 09/20/2005 N.C. Lottery may start in six months
- 09/20/2005 Retailers, Players Could Run Into N.C. Lottery Red Tape
- 09/19/2005 Will gamble on lottery revenue pay off for N.C.?
- 09/12/2005 Lottery vendors will fight for N.C. lottery business
- 09/12/2005 Will N.C. create a lottery-video poker partnership?
- 09/08/2005 Play The N.C. Lottery Over The Internet? It Could Happen
- 09/07/2005 N.C. Lottery likely to stir store rivalry
- 09/01/2005 N.C. Lottery will be Easley's legacy
- 09/01/2005 N.C. lottery's benefits uncertain to localities
- 09/01/2005 N.C. Lottery passes: 'What a battle'
- 09/01/2005 N.C. Senators Blast Lottery's Passage
- 09/01/2005 Lottery law sets rivalry in motion
- 08/31/2005 N.C. Governor Signs Historic Lottery Bill
- 08/30/2005 What's next for the N.C. lottery
- 08/30/2005 N.C. Lottery Bill Passed by Senate
- 08/30/2005 N.C. lottery foes caught in game of 'Wack-a-Mole'
- 08/25/2005 No lottery for N.C. pleases S.C. retailers
- 08/24/2005 N.C. Lottery Appears Dead as Senate Adjourns
- 08/24/2005 Lottery plan dies in N.C. Senate
- 08/23/2005 N.C. lottery still 1 vote shy of passing
- 08/20/2005 N.C. lottery bill weakening
- 08/17/2005 While N.C. lottery bill sits, backers and critics wait
- 08/12/2005 N.C. lottery's fate could come down to one key vote
- 08/12/2005 N.C. lottery vote today or Saturday
- 08/09/2005 N.C. lottery bill limits commercials
- 08/09/2005 Even with revenue deal, start of N.C. lottery no sure bet
- 08/06/2005 North Carolina Lottery is a Go
- 08/03/2005 N.C. Democrats feel heat on lottery
- 08/02/2005 Still no consensus in N.C. lottery talks
- 07/01/2005 North Carolina Still Working To Establish Lottery
- 06/20/2005 N.C. lottery talk building to a climax
- 06/17/2005 N.C. lottery still in limbo as budget talks continue
- 06/06/2005 N.C. gets lottery advice from Georgia, Florida
- 05/23/2005 N.C. lottery supporters try to control expectations
- 05/20/2005 Education at the center of N.C. lottery debate
- 05/12/2005 N.C. Senate considers social, legal expenses of starting lottery
- 05/10/2005 S.C. Lottery may learn lessons from Georgia
- 05/09/2005 S.C. retailers fret over N.C. lottery
- 05/09/2005 N.C. Lottery passage threatens S.C. education programs
- 04/27/2005 N.C. lottery bill may be changed in the Senate
- 04/22/2005 Educators Closely Watching N.C. Lottery Bill
- 04/21/2005 Senators question components of N.C. lottery bill
- 04/19/2005 N.C. Lottery opponents put pressure on lawmakers
- 04/19/2005 N.C. Senate lottery committee to meet Wednesday
- 04/18/2005 N.C. Senate begins work on lottery bill
- 04/18/2005 Lottery industry firms eye N.C. prize
- 04/18/2005 Virginia provides reference for N.C. lottery decision
- 04/18/2005 S.C. concerned about potential impact of N.C. lottery
- 04/13/2005 N.C. Religious Leaders Stage Anti-Lottery Rally
- 04/13/2005 N.C. Senate lottery panel named
- 04/12/2005 N.C. newspapers ignore law banning lottery results
- 04/11/2005 N.C. Senate to work on lottery bill
- 04/07/2005 N.C. Senate in no hurry to vote on lottery bill
- 04/06/2005 In historic vote, N.C. House passes lottery bill
- 04/06/2005 N.C. lottery vote may happen today
- 04/04/2005 N.C. legislators wary of retribution by lottery opponents
- 03/31/2005 N.C. Lottery Foes Gather Strength
- 03/30/2005 N.C. Lottery committe selected and moving quickly
- 03/28/2005 Opinion: Time has come for a lottery in North Carolina
- 03/28/2005 Money woes push some to reconsider N.C. lottery
- 03/28/2005 Showdown over N.C. lottery coming within 2 weeks
- 03/25/2005 N.C. lawmaker predicts lottery will fail
- 03/25/2005 Poll: Most Baptists Oppose N.C. Lottery
- 03/24/2005 N.C. Speaker pushing for lottery vote within 2 weeks
- 03/14/2005 N.C. residents divided over lottery question
- 03/14/2005 N.C. Gov. may get 2nd try with lottery
- 03/10/2005 N.C. lawmakers push for quick vote on lottery
- 03/07/2005 Third N.C. lottery bill proposed
- 02/22/2005 N.C. Gov. renews call for lottery
- 02/10/2005 N.C. lottery has a fighting chance this year
- 01/28/2005 New bill attempts to create a lottery in N.C.
- 01/26/2005 Hopes for N.C. lottery still alive
- 01/18/2005 The NC lottery debate continues
- 01/10/2005 N.C. man charged in lottery theft
"The largest concern that we have is the impact that easy access to gambling the accessibility to buying lottery tickets is going to have on the public as several of the commissioners recognize," said John Rustin, of the N.C. Family Policy Council.
Just look at the 40 other states that raise money by a lottery. I don't understand why these people think it would be any different in their state. The public by in large are gamblers anyway. Adding a lottery isn't going to cause social turmoil.
Brad
"The largest concern that we have is the impact that easy access to gambling the accessibility to buying lottery tickets is going to have on the public as several of the commissioners recognize," said John Rustin, of the N.C. Family Policy Council.
Just look at the 40 other states that raise money by a lottery. I don't understand why these people think it would be any different in their state. The public by in large are gamblers anyway. Adding a lottery isn't going to cause social turmoil.
Brad
It's racialism. Institutionalized racialism.
It's one of the last states in the South that have Civil War mentality. No joke. It's real. It's not just the lottery, it's a part of just about everything down here.
Consider that with any new lottery, there will be advocates and opposition. It's the nature of the beast. You can't make everyone happy.
It is unfortunate the NC seems to hold on to the "Civil War Mentality", even within it's own state government. It shouldn't be "Who's the winner and who's the loser?" It should be, "How can we make everything a win for the state of North Carolina."
The representatives of the state voted "on behalf of the people", it's done. Find something positive to focus on, like the money for education that the lottery will be bringing to the families of North Carolina.
Anyone enjoy seeing that comprehensive list of news articles for N.C. this year?
Hey Todd:
I'm sure doing the list took a lot of work. Thanks for the effort.
It's amazing to watch history repeat itself.
DDB
Hey Todd:
I'm sure doing the list took a lot of work. Thanks for the effort.
It's amazing to watch history repeat itself.
DDB
It wasn't too bad. I wanted to see if it was useful, because I could do the same thing for other news topics. It doesn't seem to be too popular, which is fine -- just testing the waters.
Todd:
I would like to have a copy of the 2005 articles related to the N. C. Lottery.
They are posted in the news story at the top of this post.
When they get it up and running smoothly, revenues pouring in they'll all be pounding their chests declaring they knew it would be a great success all along. That's politics for you.