It's time to give the people what they want and they want a lottery, one Mississippi lawmaker said Tuesday on the House floor.
And the House signaled it is ready to give the people what they want by passing amendments on two separate bills Tuesday to have the Gaming Commission establish a lottery in the state.
State Rep. Tommy Reynolds, D-Charleston, who proposed one of the successful amendments, said he would participate in a lottery said he can't see what's wrong with the state having a lottery. He said he sees Mississippians going across the state line to purchase lottery tickets.
"It's here and I would like to see us get some money off of it," Reynolds said.
Reynolds proposed an amendment on Senate Bill 2541 to create a study committee on Fantasy sports contests. It says that half of the money made off a lottery would go to help fund education in Mississippi and the other half would go to cities and counties for roads and bridge improvements.
Reynolds estimates the state could raise up to $100 million a year.
The House also passed an amendment adding a establishing a lottery to Senate Bill 2524, which revises compensation for charitable bingo supervisors.
Long-time state Rep. Alyce Clarke, D-Jackson, who has filed bill to establish a lottery for more than a decade, was successful in getting the amendment passed on the charitable bingo bill.
Clarke said Mississippi is one of only three states without a lottery.
The bills with the lottery amendments added will go back to the Senate. It's expected the bills will end up in House-Senate conference committee. Getting a lottery approved in Mississippi is expected to be an uphill battle.
State Rep. Andy Gipson, R-Braxton, and also a minister, said he believes fantasy contests and a lottery are forms of gambling.
"I never believe the House would pass it," Gipson said.
One of the main arguments against a lottery is that it encourages poor people to spend their money on the hopes of winning a big payout but with the chance of winning slim to none.
The argument in favor of a lottery is that it would provide the state a stream of revenue for projects or education without having to raise taxes.
"He said he sees Mississippians going across the state line to purchase lottery tickets."
The people are voting with their dollars and with their feet.
Mississippi could be a leader by passing legislation to have a ninety day period of anonymity for winners. A MM and PB winner would be anonymous for ninety days after cashing in their ticket.
Have a year to cash in like California has.
Listen to the voters.
This will be a postage stamp well worth it to. Will write that nice Democrat and refresh her on the facts. There are six states sans lottery not three as she stated. First I'll look up email address.
Anyone notice the lottery fatigue with MM & PB? MM went up a measly $7 million from last drawing.
Anyway good luck Mississippi with your dreams of getting a lottery. Didn't take long for a Bible thumper to come out against it though.
Email sent to her.
I hope they get the lottery Bill passed.
They should go ahead and pass it. Winners to be anonymous for safety reasons. AL residents will play there also.
Well I live in Mississippi and I hope they do pass it...Mississippi is surrounded by states that have a lottery and yes all of them goes to other states to buy their tickets..
They dont realize how many people would buy lottery tickets every single day in the morning on their way to work and when they get off of work...
We have casinos on the coast and I have been down there...tag after tag after tag you will see from other states...of course the locals go to it...but every Mississippian does not go to the casino everyday...but they would buy a lottery ticket every day...thats for sure..
its time for me to voice my opinion to the Jackson lawmakers..because I really think most of them are idiots if they dont pass this thing
A hope Mississippi introduces a state lottery, for people who wish to support a state lottery, keeping the revenue from flowing to other state lotteries.
Mississippi's proposed lottery should give winners the option to remain anonymous.
Mississippi could also raise additional revenue by offering a subscription service across the country, as is the case with the Massachusetts Lottery.
I hope so too and Alabama.....I want a closer one to me than here.
Don't forget that you can subscribe to the Massachusetts Megabucks Doubler by phone with a debit card. It costs only $100 for a year, 2 draws a year.
Hopefully Mississippi & Bama will at least get the PB & Mega.
I have seen on more than one occasion, Mississippi winners on the Louisiana Lottery site. They come across the border all the time to get tickets. I remember seeing video of a gas station on the border with an hour plus wait for tickets to get into a store when the jackpot hit $1.6billion.
If Mississippi gets a lottery, I guess that means less $$$ for Louisiana but if MS had a good game with a big jackpot, I might run across the border every now and then to get a ticket.