NC Lottery tries persuading lawmakers to expand games

Mar 11, 2016, 10:29 am (22 comments)

North Carolina Lottery

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina could collect more money through the state-run lottery if it expanded the number of games offered, Lottery Director Alice Garland told lawmakers Thursday. But such a move would likely have to wait until next year and would have to get past a sizable cadre of conservatives deeply suspicious of any move to expand the games.

"If that's a source of revenue other legislators want to pursue, that's out there," Rep. Jason Saine, R-Lincoln, said after the meeting, adding quickly that legislative leaders have not discussed such a move.

The General Assembly created the lottery in 2005, and it went into operation the following year. Between scratch-off tickets, state-run draw games and two multi-state drawing games, the lottery estimates it will sell $2 billion in lottery tickets during the fiscal year that ends in June. Of that, $529 million will go toward education. The current state budget sets aside $8.5 billion for K-12 education, with another $3.8 billion in taxpayer dollars going toward the University of North Carolina and community college systems.

Garland said the lottery is in the midst of installing a new computer system to run all of its games, a process that takes months. That means any major new expansion would be unlikely to start until 2017, at the earliest.

The most likely way lawmakers could help spur more lottery sales in the short term, she said, would be allowing the game to do more advertising. Currently, the lottery is restricted to spending 1 percent of its annual income on television, radio, Internet, billboards and the like. Raising the threshold to 1.25 percent, or an extra $5 million, could generate another $18.6 million revenue that would go toward education.

Under the current restrictions, Garland said, the lottery cannot advertise year round for either its scratch-off games or draw games. "Beneficiary messaging," ads that detail where the lottery money goes, is also limited.

"There is a great deal of confusion among citizens of North Carolina about exactly where beneficiary dollars go," Garland said.

Some lawmakers are skeptical of any move to raise the cap on advertising, saying they fear it would create more problem gamblers.

"With your extra advertising and extra games, don't you think that will add more to our social services budget?" Rep. Pat Hurley, R-Randolph, asked.

Garland said that the lottery funds problem gambling programs. In the past decade, she said, data doesn't suggest problem gambling has been on the rise in the state.

Rep. Paul "Skip" Stam, R-Wake, spent 10 minutes at the end of the meeting lambasting the lottery's approach to advertising, saying that virtually all lottery ads are designed to "induce" more players, which would be contrary to state law.

Garland said that her agency spends a lot of time trying to figure out what does and does not count as inducement.

Pondering Keno, video lottery terminals

Lawmakers had asked Garland to speak about ways the lottery could expand its offerings and raise more revenue.

She said there are no plans to expand at the moment but added that current law would allow the state to add Keno and iLottery.

Keno is a draw game that players typically find in bars or convenience stores. Instead of a drawing once a week or once a day, Keno drawings occur every five minutes. By the third year of having Keno in place, she said, the lottery could be earning $156 million more every year, of which $30 million more would be added to the education budget.

In the case of iLottery sales, Garland said, the lottery would not be adding new games but allowing players to buy tickets online and through their mobile devices.

"It would be a way to reach the 34-and-under (players) who think the lottery today is their grandparents' lottery. It would be a way to reach that new audience," she said.

The biggest potential bump to lottery revenue, she said, would come from adding video lottery terminals, or VLTs. But lawmakers would need to authorize those games.

VLTs offer player interactive games. They are similar to video poker or video sweepstakes machines, both of which are illegal in North Carolina.

Oregon, which has less than half the population of North Carolina, earns $789 million off of VLTs.

But lawmakers who worked to stamp out sweepstakes and video poker did not seem eager to open up a state-run version of those games.

"What is the difference between the state doing video poker and the private sector doing video poker?" asked Rep. Nelson Dollar, R-Wake.

Garland said the state-run game would be better regulated and more closely overseen.

"There's regulation, there's security, there's integrity, there's reporting and there's responsible gaming," she said.

Dollar followed up, "Why wouldn't we just say, 'OK, let's have those things, and let the video gaming people back in the state?'"

Garland said that decision was up to the legislature. Based on reactions from the committee, it seems like a decision legislators are unlikely to make any time soon.

"I can't see it because of how hard we worked to stamp out sweepstakes," Sen. Jerry Tillman, R-Randolph, said after the meeting.

Tillman, who has advocated for loosening the reins on lottery advertising, said he thought legislators would be more likely to embrace something like Keno, calling it "the lesser of two evils."

Lawmakers are scheduled to return to work on April 25.

WRAL

Comments

destinycreation

"Garland said the lottery is in the midst of installing a new computer system to run all of its games, a process that takes months."

 

Does this statement "new computer" mean that North Carolina is switching from ball machines to computer RNG draws ???  P***ed   I hope NOT !!!  No Nod

Groppo's avatarGroppo

Quote: Originally posted by destinycreation on Mar 11, 2016

"Garland said the lottery is in the midst of installing a new computer system to run all of its games, a process that takes months."

 

Does this statement "new computer" mean that North Carolina is switching from ball machines to computer RNG draws ???  P***ed   I hope NOT !!!  No Nod

Mr. DestinyCreation,

I also hope not.

There's an online craps game, I often play, for play money, and notice too many of the rolls land as 6 and 1
(that is, one die will land a 6, and the other die will land a 1).

I don't do badly at that game, but I sure wouldn't want to try it in real life, on a computer dice game.

Groppo

Technics

It's amazing how NCEL will trying to instigate ways to beat people out of more money YET, make excuses for education . I am not fond of this at all. I have just about quit playing . They need to be this vigilant about helping TEACHERS get and keep jobs and funding EDUCATION as the games title expresses.

NCEL = NORTH CAROLINA EDUCATION LOTTERY  No No BS

titia79's avatartitia79

Quote: Originally posted by Technics on Mar 11, 2016

It's amazing how NCEL will trying to instigate ways to beat people out of more money YET, make excuses for education . I am not fond of this at all. I have just about quit playing . They need to be this vigilant about helping TEACHERS get and keep jobs and funding EDUCATION as the games title expresses.

NCEL = NORTH CAROLINA EDUCATION LOTTERY  No No BS

Hell NC won't even give a quad for almost 3 years and they need more money.... Stop bsing people out of hard earn money with no return!!!!!! I play because I know its helping kids obtain education but if its not then I won't play anymore!!!!

Stack47

"Some lawmakers are skeptical of any move to raise the cap on advertising, saying they fear it would create more problem gamblers. "

I guess that includes the ads when PM was setting jackpot records. This stuff about more game options "creates more problem gamblers" is nothing more than North Carolina's "big brothers" saying they know what's best for them. Nothing new when legislators don't understand a cash cow when they see one.

OneTrickpony's avatarOneTrickpony

As a resident, I think the General Assembly and law makers need to make up their mind. Either they are all in and change the law, or they are out and shut down their money maker.  This 'half-in, half-out' stance is counter productive.  If you want to dance with the devil, you're gonna have to pay the fiddler Rep. Skip Stam.

RedStang's avatarRedStang

Quote: Originally posted by Technics on Mar 11, 2016

It's amazing how NCEL will trying to instigate ways to beat people out of more money YET, make excuses for education . I am not fond of this at all. I have just about quit playing . They need to be this vigilant about helping TEACHERS get and keep jobs and funding EDUCATION as the games title expresses.

NCEL = NORTH CAROLINA EDUCATION LOTTERY  No No BS

I have to agree. Your scratch-offs were horrible last year and i played between Raleigh/Falls lake, Jacksonville and Morehead City and barely won anything. I usually made out good before that.

myturn's avatarmyturn

North Carolina Lottery should follow the Massachusetts Lottery's example and offer it's subscription service across the country. It would raise additional revenue for education.

Stack47

Quote: Originally posted by myturn on Mar 12, 2016

North Carolina Lottery should follow the Massachusetts Lottery's example and offer it's subscription service across the country. It would raise additional revenue for education.

such a move would likely have to wait until next year and would have to get past a sizable cadre of conservatives deeply suspicious of any move to expand the games.

Some of the game expansion mentioned in the article is 5 minute Keno, but apparently some legislators are suspicious of any new games.

"It would be a way to reach the 34-and-under (players) who think the lottery today is their grandparents' lottery. It would be a way to reach that new audience," she said.

Lottery Director Alice Garland believes 5 minute Keno could add another $156 million yearly. How much do you think your subscriptions would add?

destinycreation

Quote: Originally posted by Groppo on Mar 11, 2016

Mr. DestinyCreation,

I also hope not.

There's an online craps game, I often play, for play money, and notice too many of the rolls land as 6 and 1
(that is, one die will land a 6, and the other die will land a 1).

I don't do badly at that game, but I sure wouldn't want to try it in real life, on a computer dice game.

Groppo

FYI : I am FEMALE - It's "Ms." - never married !!!

y2kjackson

Another way to extort money for a state that's going broke!

Unkle Richie's avatarUnkle Richie

If North Carolina Were Honestly Needing More Money, Then Colorado Has Already Shown The Way. Simply Legalize Medical Marijuana And Rake In The Dollars Of Surrounding Areas All Awhile Bringing More Business to Shopping Malls, Restaurants, Movie Theatres, Bars, Museums Etc. Oppose To Robbing The States People Of There Lil Biddy Hard Earned Money. Hell, Once We Fed Up With Losing And Continue Cutting Back As A Whole.. Honestly.. Just How Much Do You Believe The Revenue Going To Be? Or Is That Why You've Given Us The One Off Lol Cause We've Slowly Been Weining Off The Lotto And Here You Are Now Playing On Our Psyche, By Wanting To Give Us "More Options".. Anything To Not See Us Go Huh.. We Must Stay In The Game, "Surely We're Only One Play Away From The Big One" Lol Oh Those Games Haven't Been Good To Y'all Here Try This One!! Its A Game Changer.

OneTrickpony's avatarOneTrickpony

Quote: Originally posted by Stack47 on Mar 11, 2016

"Some lawmakers are skeptical of any move to raise the cap on advertising, saying they fear it would create more problem gamblers. "

I guess that includes the ads when PM was setting jackpot records. This stuff about more game options "creates more problem gamblers" is nothing more than North Carolina's "big brothers" saying they know what's best for them. Nothing new when legislators don't understand a cash cow when they see one.

I Agree!

Oh honey, there is a level of hypocritical self-righteousness in politics these days that is unsurpassed.  I can't quite figure out if they are really that stupid, or do they just think that WE are that stupid.

mypiemaster's avatarmypiemaster

Quote: Originally posted by OneTrickpony on Mar 13, 2016

I Agree!

Oh honey, there is a level of hypocritical self-righteousness in politics these days that is unsurpassed.  I can't quite figure out if they are really that stupid, or do they just think that WE are that stupid.

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