Days before North Carolina launches its lottery with scratch-off ticket sales, television and radio ads are being rolled out across the state. But the publisher of one small paper in eastern North Carolina says he's not going to be taking any lottery advertising.
"A scam carried out by our state government is no less a scam," wrote Bart Adams, publisher and editor of The Daily Record of Dunn, in a column last week. "And ads from the North Carolina Lottery Commission which will no doubt entice people to fork over hard-earned cash on empty promises of instant riches would conflict with our efforts to give readers honest and accurate information."
Adams' newspaper is the only one in the state known to have taken such a stand - and it may be in vain. A lottery spokeswoman said Monday that print advertising is not a part of the marketing blitz for the lottery's March 30 launch.
"We thought we would start with TV and radio to reach the most people," said Pam Walker of the North Carolina Education Lottery, which has budgeted $1.9 million for advertising through June.
Walker said she knew of no TV or radio stations that had declined to take the lottery's advertisements, which began airing Monday.
North Carolina is the last state on the East Coast to launch a lottery. Legislative leaders who blocked approval of lottery proposals for years before finally passing it last year said they were partially swayed by the amount of North Carolina money that was being spent on neighboring states' games. But many opponents have complained lotteries, with their ready availability and longshot jackpots, attract players who are disproportionate poor.
In the column he published Friday, Adams wrote that his newspaper's "greatest asset is our readers' trust that we are doing our best to be honest and accurate."
He said the paper will publish the lottery numbers, since those qualify as news, and will carry ads from merchants who want to advertise that they offer lottery tickets.
"We're not trying to interfere with people participating in the lottery," he wrote. "We just don't want to take part in luring readers into a sucker's bet."
The Daily Record, which has a circulation of just over 10,000, serves Harnett County south of Raleigh, including the communities of Benson, Buies Creek, Lillington and Newton Grove.
In an interview Monday, Adams said he had not received any complaints from readers. Adams said he views refusing to publish lottery advertising as no different from keeping horoscopes or advertisements for get-rich-quick schemes out of the paper.
"Why would we want to intentionally mislead our readers?" he said. "I just look at the lottery as a scam. We don't accept ads for stuffing envelopes at home. We don't run those, and I don't see much difference."
By law, the lottery's advertising may not try to entice people to play with false promises of riches or by denigrating the work ethic. All lottery advertising also must include disclaimers that state the odds of winning and include a hotline number for compulsive gamblers.
Adams isn't buying the restrictions.
"If it wasn't designed to entice people the play the games, why would they advertise?" he said. The head of the North Carolina Press Association, a newspaper industry group, said she knows of no other papers in the state that have taken the Daily Record's position.
"I think every newspaper needs to follow its conscience," NCPA executive director Beth Grace said. "They have readers to serve and they know best what their readers need and want."
One might see the decline of advertising as a publicity stunt in and of itsself.What better way to get your small town paper noticed all over the state.There may even be some who order a subscription as a vote of brotherhood with the paper.No big deal,the paper's editor can choose to participate or not just like potential lottery players.
No kidding. Wow the daily record of Dunn. I think we have several free papers in Seattle with way higher circulation. I think they would want to advertise somewhere that people would notice it.
I think it's great! He's going against the grain. If his readers don't want advertisements...he doesn't give it to them. It's not like they'll never hear about it.
I think they (all media) should start showing what the ACTUAL cash payout would be. The advertised cash payout right now is $63.8 mil. BS!!! Here in KS, the cash payout is $44.6!! BIG difference if you ask me! (that's minus taxes of course.)
I think EVERY newspaper should be like this guy. If you aren't going to be honest about how much is actually won in your state....don't bother.
I'm probably not expressing myself well right now. I'm going to finish my coffee and try this again.
This is why I like independently owned papers - they can have a curmudgeon owner like him who sticks to his or her guns. No corporate blandness in that paper.
I buy lottery tickets, I want to be super mega filthy rich like everyone else, but at the same time I have mixed feelings about the ethics of states who are supposed to be protecting all its citizens yet knowingly take in a higher percentage of lottery dollars per annual income from the poor and desperate. One can honestly have the view that enticing the poor to lose money should not be the mission of a state. In MA the web site boasts all the money the MA lottery has given to towns, yet houses burn to the ground because fire stations are closed due to lack of funds. And those fire stations were open in pre-lottery days, so how much good is the lottery doing anyone but the jackpot winners?
Wow,what an easy way to solve that problem....just close down the Mass lottery then no houses would burn down because there'd be plenty of money for all the fire stations anybody would need.As far as your logic goes...No sale!
with whitmansm2. I think it is great when a small, independent paper takes a stand, whether I happen to agree with them or not. And I think it was a good PR move for the little paper to get some free publicity, especially since the NC Lottery had no intention of advertising in print media anyway.
Wow,what an easy way to solve that problem....just close down the Mass lottery then no houses would burn down because there'd be plenty of money for all the fire stations anybody would need.As far as your logic goes...No sale!
It was an observation that there apparently has been no net increase in funds from the lottery to MA towns - if there was, there would be plenty of money to keep fire stations open. The fact that towns could afford to keep them open in 1970 before the lottery started but can't now even with "additional" funding from the lottery shows that the something is wrong with the system of taxes and/or the lottery. The reasons behind it can be investigated and debated but the facts can't be denied.
If he were protesting the prize levels and the inflated annuities then that would be one thing but he's protesting the lottery in general. He's saying the lottery is a scam, everything from pick 3 to Powerball is a scam. Even tax-free cash games like Euromillions would be a scam to him.
I think that it is to each there own if they dont want to have their paper advertising then so be it, But I totally agree about the Payout miss info. I mean I have played long enough now that I am very educated on all there crap but in the beginning I had NO CLUE that once you got a pay out that it would then be taxed again! I learned that over time as well as the rest! But I really think that its just stupid that they dont advertise per state what the ACTUALLY CHECK is going to be, most part these days there are alot of pools that are playing. I am sure that there are higher possibilities of a cash option for that point, so why not TELL US WHAT IT IS and advertise THAT
Wow,what an easy way to solve that problem....just close down the Mass lottery then no houses would burn down because there'd be plenty of money for all the fire stations anybody would need.As far as your logic goes...No sale!
It was an observation that there apparently has been no net increase in funds from the lottery to MA towns - if there was, there would be plenty of money to keep fire stations open. The fact that towns could afford to keep them open in 1970 before the lottery started but can't now even with "additional" funding from the lottery shows that the something is wrong with the system of taxes and/or the lottery. The reasons behind it can be investigated and debated but the facts can't be denied.
From the Mass. website:"Lottery funds are not earmarked for any specific programs,allowing cities and towns to choose how they would like to spend the funds..."
Gee,how amazing that local governments might spend their allotment unwisely.I guess it's ok as long as you have the lottery to blame.Anybody have a cost analysis of how these towns choose to spend their monies?
The Lottery's Fiscal Year 2005, which ended June 30, 2005, was the second-best year in Lottery history with $206.7 million in sales and $65.4 million transferred to the state.
The Kansas Lottery Act requires that a minimum of 45 percent of total sales be paid back to the players through the prize fund. In fiscal year 2005 (July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005), the Kansas Lottery paid out 54 percent in prizes. The State Gaming Revenues Fund received 31 percent of ticket sales; cost of sales was 5 percent (which covers online vendor fees, telecommunications costs and instant ticket printing); 6 percent was transferred to retailer earnings and 4 percent covered administrative expenses (salaries, advertising, depreciation, professional services and other administrative expenses.)
The lottery in my state is the least of my worries. We just passed a law that allows us to carry concealed weapons....a law that makes anyone lighter than EIGHTY FREAKIN POUNDS have to be in a car seat.....PLUS some idiot thinks it's a good idea for doctors and hospitals to have to report any sexual activites in someone that's a minor! Regardless of what they came in for! If a girl has problems with her period, and needs birthcontrol, the DR has to report her. If a chick gets pregnant...and she's a minor...the boy will be arrested for rape of a minor and have to register as a sex offender FOR THE REST OF HIS NATURAL LIFE!!! REGARDLESS if it was consenutial! (I think we are the only state that has a poor little boy (6 years old) that's on the Registered Sex Offenders list!!!
:::ok calming down::: I think there are more things to worry about than if the Lottery is paying what it's suppose to be and WHERE it is suppose to.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO FREEDOM? We, as Americans, have become soo PC, that we're restricting our own damn freedom!!! Carry concealed weapons, have our kids go into therapy for having to be in a car seat because they happened to be small boned at the age of 12....BUT WE'LL BE DAMN IF YOU CAN REGULATE YOUR PERIODS AND HELP WITH HORMONES BY GETTING ON THE PILL WITHOUT YOUR PARENTS GETTING IN TROBLE!
Years ago the MO lottery could not advertise. So their full page "message" in the newspaper carried in small type something like "This is not an advertisement - this is an educational message" While we lived in that area they dropped that requirement.
So I guess that a newspaper could accept an "message" but not have to accept an advertisement.
I say boycott this paper! Even if they publish the winning numbers.
BTW have you noticed Planned Parenthood is advertising on LP?
One might see the decline of advertising as a publicity stunt in and of itsself.What better way to get your small town paper noticed all over the state.There may even be some who order a subscription as a vote of brotherhood with the paper.No big deal,the paper's editor can choose to participate or not just like potential lottery players.
No kidding. Wow the daily record of Dunn. I think we have several free papers in Seattle with way higher circulation. I think they would want to advertise somewhere that people would notice it.
I think it's great! He's going against the grain. If his readers don't want advertisements...he doesn't give it to them. It's not like they'll never hear about it.
I think they (all media) should start showing what the ACTUAL cash payout would be. The advertised cash payout right now is $63.8 mil. BS!!! Here in KS, the cash payout is $44.6!! BIG difference if you ask me! (that's minus taxes of course.)
I think EVERY newspaper should be like this guy. If you aren't going to be honest about how much is actually won in your state....don't bother.
I'm probably not expressing myself well right now. I'm going to finish my coffee and try this again.
This is why I like independently owned papers - they can have a curmudgeon owner like him who sticks to his or her guns. No corporate blandness in that paper.
I buy lottery tickets, I want to be super mega filthy rich like everyone else, but at the same time I have mixed feelings about the ethics of states who are supposed to be protecting all its citizens yet knowingly take in a higher percentage of lottery dollars per annual income from the poor and desperate. One can honestly have the view that enticing the poor to lose money should not be the mission of a state. In MA the web site boasts all the money the MA lottery has given to towns, yet houses burn to the ground because fire stations are closed due to lack of funds. And those fire stations were open in pre-lottery days, so how much good is the lottery doing anyone but the jackpot winners?
Wow,what an easy way to solve that problem....just close down the Mass lottery then no houses would burn down because there'd be plenty of money for all the fire stations anybody would need.As far as your logic goes...No sale!
Wow,what an easy way to solve that problem....just close down the Mass lottery then no houses would burn down because there'd be plenty of money for all the fire stations anybody would need.As far as your logic goes...No sale!
It was an observation that there apparently has been no net increase in funds from the lottery to MA towns - if there was, there would be plenty of money to keep fire stations open. The fact that towns could afford to keep them open in 1970 before the lottery started but can't now even with "additional" funding from the lottery shows that the something is wrong with the system of taxes and/or the lottery. The reasons behind it can be investigated and debated but the facts can't be denied.
If he were protesting the prize levels and the inflated annuities then that would be one thing but he's protesting the lottery in general. He's saying the lottery is a scam, everything from pick 3 to Powerball is a scam. Even tax-free cash games like Euromillions would be a scam to him.
I think that it is to each there own if they dont want to have their paper advertising then so be it, But I totally agree about the Payout miss info. I mean I have played long enough now that I am very educated on all there crap but in the beginning I had NO CLUE that once you got a pay out that it would then be taxed again! I learned that over time as well as the rest! But I really think that its just stupid that they dont advertise per state what the ACTUALLY CHECK is going to be, most part these days there are alot of pools that are playing. I am sure that there are higher possibilities of a cash option for that point, so why not TELL US WHAT IT IS and advertise THAT
Wow,what an easy way to solve that problem....just close down the Mass lottery then no houses would burn down because there'd be plenty of money for all the fire stations anybody would need.As far as your logic goes...No sale!
It was an observation that there apparently has been no net increase in funds from the lottery to MA towns - if there was, there would be plenty of money to keep fire stations open. The fact that towns could afford to keep them open in 1970 before the lottery started but can't now even with "additional" funding from the lottery shows that the something is wrong with the system of taxes and/or the lottery. The reasons behind it can be investigated and debated but the facts can't be denied.
From the Mass. website:"Lottery funds are not earmarked for any specific programs,allowing cities and towns to choose how they would like to spend the funds..."
Gee,how amazing that local governments might spend their allotment unwisely.I guess it's ok as long as you have the lottery to blame.Anybody have a cost analysis of how these towns choose to spend their monies?
Economic Development Initiatives Fund
$42,432,000
Juvenile Detention Facilities Fund
$2,496,000
Correctional Institutions Building Fund
$4,992,000
Problem Gambling Grant Fund
$80,000
State General Fund
$15,409,441
$41,135,102
Also read this......
The Lottery's Fiscal Year 2005, which ended June 30, 2005, was the second-best year in Lottery history with $206.7 million in sales and $65.4 million transferred to the state.
The Kansas Lottery Act requires that a minimum of 45 percent of total sales be paid back to the players through the prize fund. In fiscal year 2005 (July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005), the Kansas Lottery paid out 54 percent in prizes. The State Gaming Revenues Fund received 31 percent of ticket sales; cost of sales was 5 percent (which covers online vendor fees, telecommunications costs and instant ticket printing); 6 percent was transferred to retailer earnings and 4 percent covered administrative expenses (salaries, advertising, depreciation, professional services and other administrative expenses.)
The lottery in my state is the least of my worries. We just passed a law that allows us to carry concealed weapons....a law that makes anyone lighter than EIGHTY FREAKIN POUNDS have to be in a car seat.....PLUS some idiot thinks it's a good idea for doctors and hospitals to have to report any sexual activites in someone that's a minor! Regardless of what they came in for! If a girl has problems with her period, and needs birthcontrol, the DR has to report her. If a chick gets pregnant...and she's a minor...the boy will be arrested for rape of a minor and have to register as a sex offender FOR THE REST OF HIS NATURAL LIFE!!! REGARDLESS if it was consenutial! (I think we are the only state that has a poor little boy (6 years old) that's on the Registered Sex Offenders list!!!
:::ok calming down::: I think there are more things to worry about than if the Lottery is paying what it's suppose to be and WHERE it is suppose to.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO FREEDOM? We, as Americans, have become soo PC, that we're restricting our own damn freedom!!! Carry concealed weapons, have our kids go into therapy for having to be in a car seat because they happened to be small boned at the age of 12....BUT WE'LL BE DAMN IF YOU CAN REGULATE YOUR PERIODS AND HELP WITH HORMONES BY GETTING ON THE PILL WITHOUT YOUR PARENTS GETTING IN TROBLE!
uhm...I'm sorry.....what were we talking about?
Years ago the MO lottery could not advertise. So their full page "message" in the newspaper carried in small type something like "This is not an advertisement - this is an educational message" While we lived in that area they dropped that requirement.
So I guess that a newspaper could accept an "message" but not have to accept an advertisement.
Isn't the government a wonderful thing?
And we elect them!