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Lottery idea proposed by Arkansas Gov. candidateNews Story
During the weekend, an Arkansas gubernatorial hopeful uttered the L word in announcing his candidacy.Bill Halter, a Democrat from North Little Rock, threw his hat into the ring for governor by proposing a state lottery. As in virtually every state where lotteries have been proposed, Mr. Halter recommends using lottery proceeds to fund public education in Arkansas.It would take a constitutional amendment, and Mr. Halter said he'd pursue a lottery after being elected.Among the general public, th
Jan 24, 2006, 7:06 am - Lottery News

Papers provide details on N.C. Lottery lobbyNews Story
Meredith Norris, former top political aide to North Carolina House Speaker Jim Black, urged him to call Gov. Mike Easley and push for a lottery-legislation change suggested by a lottery company executive during last year's General Assembly session, documents released Thursday show.Black said he never made the call. Months later, state officials began investigating Norris, the executive and the company, Scientific Games, for possible lobbying law violations.The documents were among 2,100 pages Bl
Jan 20, 2006, 8:27 am - Lottery News

N.C. Lottery opens period for advertising bidsNews Story
The North Carolina Education Lottery opened the bidding Wednesday for its advertising contract.The 86-page request for proposal states the lottery commission intends to hire only one firm to help market scratch-off ticket games, which are projected to begin in early April, and automated numbers games, which could start in mid-June.Firms must have their bids to the commission by Jan. 27, according to the tentative schedule released by the commission. Finalists will be announced Feb. 1, and the co
Jan 12, 2006, 9:36 am - Lottery News

N.C. Lottery will start on schedule, director saysNews Story
Officials charged with starting a lottery in North Carolina said yesterday that they hope to award two major contracts by Feb. 2, despite a lawsuit intended to stop them.The officials also said they will soon contract with the state's Alcohol Law Enforcement Division to provide agents to screen lottery retailers. We're developing momentum in getting this going, said Charles Sanders, the former Glaxo chairman who heads the N.C. Lottery Commission.Officials have set April 5 as the target date to
Jan 9, 2006, 11:00 am - Lottery News

N.C. anti-lottery trying to halt all progress on gamesNews Story
An anti-lottery legal foundation wants a judge to prevent the North Carolina Education Lottery from doing any work while a lawsuit challenging the lottery's passage in the Legislature is heard.In a filing late Friday in Wake County Superior Court, Robert Orr with the North Carolina Institute for Constitutional Law filed a motion asking a judge to order the lottery commission to stop operating for now.The proposed preliminary injunction also would keep state officials from loaning the commission
Jan 2, 2006, 10:24 am - Lottery News

N.C. House Speaker under investigation in lottery probeNews Story
House Speaker and Top Aide Under Investigation for Possible Corruption in Measure's PassageWhen North Carolina's legislature relented from its decades-long opposition to a state lottery this summer, preachers and conservative lawmakers warned that wherever gambling goes, scandal follows.Even they never predicted it would arrive so fast.North Carolina, which until now was one of the few states without a lottery, will not begin its games until spring, but already state and federal criminal investi
Dec 30, 2005, 11:50 pm - Lottery News

A look back at the North Carolina lottery in 2005News Story
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 N
Dec 28, 2005, 9:48 am - Lottery News

N.C. Lottery commission approves contracts for potential retailersNews Story
The North Carolina Lottery Commission is closer to putting together a network of ticket retailers after approving a proposed contract with about 30 guidelines for stores.A statewide database already has provided a list of 10,000 potential retailers, lottery executive director Tom Shaheen said. State law does not cap the number of places that will qualify to sell lottery tickets and it is unclear how many retailers will qualify to sell them.Shaheen wants instant-win tickets on sale by April 5, fo
Dec 28, 2005, 7:21 am - Lottery News

N.C. Lottery misunderstandings could derail bondsNews Story
The new North Carolina lottery is supposed to help fund education, but local school officials and advocates are worried that the newly created state game could shut off a vital source of funding. Our worry is that the public will see the lottery as being this great boon and will say, 'Well, we don't need to vote for this bond. The lottery will take care of it,' said Margaret Arbuckle, director of the Guilford Education Alliance, a business group that is a booster for public schools.Bonds are n
Dec 26, 2005, 9:33 am - Lottery News

Lottery: Promises and pitfallsNews Story
A look at problems and solutions of some state lotteries, as North Carolina leaders try to predict their own problems to come.Art Johnson isn't a big gambler but plays the Florida lottery on occasion. No, not because it will help the Palm Beach County School District, where he is superintendent. I want to win, Johnson said with a laugh.Ask him about the lottery's funding for education and Johnson is a lot less jovial. I'm unimpressed, said the former principal and school board member who now h
Dec 26, 2005, 8:42 am - Lottery News