JACKSON, Miss. — By all accounts, Mississippians by droves participated in the $1.6 billion Powerball lottery that was awarded this past week, but the state of Mississippi did not participate.
Mississippi is one of six states that does not conduct a lottery. The others are Alabama, Nevada, Utah, Hawaii and Alaska.
But, according to many people, the fact the state does not have a lottery does not mean Mississippians were not vying for the record jackpot.
Supporters of the lottery say the state of Mississippi just was not reaping any of the benefits of the Powerball lottery frenzy.
"I live in a river town," said Rep. Robert Johnson, D-Natchez. "The amount of people crossing the river to purchase lottery tickets would have produced enough revenue to have made a difference for public education funding.
"And I am just talking about Natchez. That is all along the (Mississippi) River."
Rep. Preston Sullivan, D-Okolona, said, "A lot of money is leaving Mississippi going to other places."
The attention created by the record Powerball payout has created new interest in the Mississippi Legislature for a state lottery.
Gulf Coast senators gave all of their colleagues a Powerball ticket in an effort to build good will toward the lottery. And there is talk of a concerted effort to try to pass legislation creating a lottery.
But, in reality, it is not likely that such legislation will get far.
"Right now, Mississippi requires gambling institutions to provide real economic impact," said Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, who presides over the Senate. "A casino can provide hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars of investment through hotels, restaurants and shops. A lottery doesn't provide those benefits. I believe that is why the Legislature has not embraced lotteries."
And Gov. Phil Bryant did not mince any words.
"I am not for it," he said.
Bryant and others contend the lottery does not generate new revenue. Instead people just redirect their spending to a lottery from other activities, which already are taxed by the state. Plus many believe people who can least afford it purchase the bulk of the lottery tickets.
But supporters of the lottery contend it could generate much-needed revenue for a cash-strapped state education system.
But Bryant said, "I think it sends the wrong signal to schoolchildren to say education funding is dependent on a game of chance."
Sen. Hob Bryan, D-Amory, who often is at odds with Reeves and Bryant, agrees with them on the lottery. He said the revenue produced by a lottery will be insignificant when compared to the negative impact on the state of a lottery. He said the tax cuts being considered this year would take much more money out of the general fund than a lottery would produce.
Through the years, much of the opposition to the lottery has come from Northeast Mississippians, such as Bryan.
In 1992, thanks in large part to the advocacy of former Gov. Ray Mabus, the Legislature placed on the ballot an amendment to remove the lottery ban that was in the Mississippi Constitution.
The proposal to lift the ban passed 481,848 to 427,335. But the only counties in Northeast Mississippi to vote in favor of lifting the ban were Clay, Oktibbeha and Marshall and all did so by narrow margins.
The other 13 Northeast Mississippi counties voted to keep the ban in place – in some counties by large margins, For instance, Lee voted for the ban by a 11,868 to 7,200 margin. And in some Northeast counties, such as Pontotoc, Prentiss and Union, residents voted to keep the ban by nearly a two-to-one margin.
After the ban was lifted by the statewide referendum, legislative efforts to put a lottery in place were unsuccessful. Northeast Mississippi legislators were some of the most vocal opponents of the lottery in the 1990s after the ban was lifted.
Most Northeast Mississippi legislators today seem to remain lukewarm to the lottery.
"I would consider the lottery if the money was going to be earmarked specifically for kindergarten through 12 education and community colleges," said Sen. Chad McMahan, R-Guntown. "...That is the only way I would support it."
And even then, McMahan was not a certain vote.
"I am undecided," said Sen. Bill Stone, D-Holly Springs. "I see the line of cars cross into Tennessee to buy tickets. But I don't know."
Sen. Russell Jolly, D-Houston, also said he was not sure before finally saying, "I am going to go by what the people in my district want."
Rep. Jay Hughes, D-Oxford, though, said "I am an unapologetic supporter of the lottery. I see it as a wonderful opportunity to carve out funding for public education."
Rep. Margaret Ellis Rogers, R-New Albany, questioned whether a lottery would just divert funds away from the state's casino gambling industry.
Indeed, it is often said that the Baptists and the gambling industry have joined forces to block the industry.
Whomever the opponents are, thus far they have been successful.
Was it Idaho that started a lottery acouple years ago? Anybody know how their doing with it........
Ms. has casinos--why not the lottery? It costs less to play the lottery than to gamble at a casino. So in Ms. only certain income levels are allowed to gamble. A bunch of hypocrites in the state legislature.
Mississippi has 30 state-regulated casinos along the Mississippi River and on the Gulf Coast. In addition, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians own and operate three Class III Indian casinos and a plan a fourth casino in Jones County.
There are some really nice casinos on the gulf coast, in the Biloxi/Gulfport area. I spent a good amount of time playing up and down the strip there a few years back. At the time they had some really good house rules for craps and blackjack.
And those casinos (and others in the state) are probably some of the biggest opponents of a legalized lottery in the state. Just like in Nevada, the casinos are threatened by alternative forms of gambling.
"I see the line of cars cross into Tennessee to buy tickets. But I don't know."
It's easy. Just count the cars and times it by an average of $20 each. That should help your decision.
Representative forms of government are not perfect but for the most part, the people are heard.
As former Prime Minister of England, Winston Churchill said, "Democracy is a lousy way to govern until you consider the alternatives."
Have you ever spelled Mississippi,"Mrs.Sippi"?
Nevada is often called the Mississippi of the west,
now we can call Mississippi the Nevada of the south.
Idaho has had a lottery since the late 80's. Dunno which state just recently got one.
Todd,
How true.
The Indian Gaming Act of 1987 is what led to the gambling expansion, at first Indian casinos and then river boats (Class III gambling).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Gaming_Regulatory_Act
When the river boat were picking out locations there was a lot of opposition. A lot of it was from Catholic churches that didn't want competition for their bingo games.
I think it is Wyoming you are speaking of and I believe it began in 2013. Utah citizens are buying in Wyoming so it is affecting Idaho sales. Other than that not sure how they are doing.
Wyoming is the latest state to get a lottery.
Some states have both. You got your people who like the lottery then you got your boat people. And some like both. Why not let the people decide. Most states all monies got to education.
I believe it was Wyoming.
I don't see where lotteries would redirect/divert any more money from other activities than casinos do. However, the lottery wouldnot contribute to politicians campaigns, that may be the sticking point for some of our legislators.
It is beautiful down there, I have gone several times with my father. We have always stayed at Palace Casino Resort but he is down there right now on vacation and is at Harrah's and seems to like it so far. It is really nice and peaceful down there, like its own little world.
Please come back and avail yourself of our southern hospitality and balmy weather anytime VenomV12. It's usually shorts and tshirt weather at least 1/3 of winter and you can always enjoy our fresh Gulf seafood.
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I remember a long time ago, before any USA lottos, someone telling me that they have the gulf coast casinos, because it was the only way to have any casinos in that state. It somehow "removes" the casino from the state.
As far as it being lovely down there, it must be the only lovely place down there, when you consider all the flooding to which the state is subject.
Black-hating rednecks, living like it was 30 to 40 years ago. We had some similar rednecks up this way (thankfully, like 2 or 3 of them) around that time. And I thought they were kind of weird, what with their crew cut hair, and wearing their CAT diesel caps. They were kind of big for kids (except for the 3rd one. I had 2 inches or so of height over him), and talked like regular rednecks. I would later find out from some black people, that they're skinheads. NO, skinheads shave their heads. These guys who were otherwise bullies, simply had crew cuts, "hated n_____s", and the like. When they were up in our neighborhood, I'd act like I was one of the intimidated and ask them stuff like "What do rednecks do?" (now, remember, I was about 11 or 12, I forget).
I'd continue to ask things like "do you all roll logs, like in a lake".
"How about log chucking." (something to just kind of break the ice).
They would laugh, thinking I was retarded or something, but better that, than to start bullying me, sort of thing.
So, this kind of dialogue with them would vary between the times when they were drinking beer, and chewing their Skoal brand of chewing tobacco (nasty, yuck, bleh). In the end, they just disappeared one day.
They never really, hatefully messed with anyone around here, which is what afforded me the opportunity to ask them stupid questions. It was king of funny, when you put it all together. But, this third one, who, for the longest time, lived just down the street, had a bad attitude toward me. Still, no less funnier than the other two. In fact, this "local" one, I knew the longest. And he had no patience and had a really nasty attitude, all the time I knew him. Many times, I had to keep from busting out laughing, when I'd see him around. Not really for appearance, but his attitude, which seemed to be all about "I'm a righteous, white redneck boy.". I think they hung around the local barber shop a lot. That may be the reason I learned to avoid getting hair cuts.
But he too has moved away, and is probably an old white haired man, by now.
I've been dying, laughling about remembering all this, as I write this.
My point is: These are the kinds of people I think inhabit in-land Mississippi.
Did you ever see the 1968 movie "Easy Riders", with Peter Fonda.
One day, they're cruising along, and decide to stop in this total redneck diner, likely in Louisiana, and nobody likes them, with their long hair, etc. I nearly died when watching the movie with friends one night and they were cutting on the scene.
Groppo, apparently your expertise about Mississippi is third person as your post is peppered with "someone telling me", "it must be", "I think". You're only putting your ignorance on display; please don't. Every state is populated with people who are educated, uneducated, redneck, cultured, kind, bullies, etc. If you've never been to a place, you have nothing on which to base an opinion. Travel and expand your horizons, enjoy life and lighten up on the negativity, please.
"Mississippi is one of six states that does not conduct a lottery. The others are Alabama, Nevada, Utah, Hawaii and Alaska."
If you live in any of these states, you can play a state lottery, just not your own state. You can subscribe to the Massachusetts State Lottery by phone, they will ship subscriptions to your address, anywhere in the US.
I am a Season Ticket holder in KY for Massachusetts State Lottery. By law you can only order Megabucks Doubler over the telephone. This is a stupid Federal Law from 1961. I personally bought MM, L4L while there in July. My Brother FINALLY bought my Powerball ticket since the sale ended 2 JAN 16. You can't beat their sale....seven weeks FREE. Now just waiting to win, it is my turn for my home state to take care of me! LOL