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Lawsuit filed to pull lottery off Arkansas ballotNews Story
A group opposing a state-run lottery asked the Arkansas Supreme Court on Friday to throw the proposal off this fall's ballot. The Arkansas Family Council argued in a petition filed with the state's highest court that the proposed constitutional amendment's title and name should be found inaccurate, incomplete and misleading because they don't define lotteries and doesn't warn voters of potential consequences of authorizing a state-run lottery. The proposal leaves it up to the Legislature to w
Sep 20, 2008, 2:42 pm - Lottery News

Oklahoma Lottery worried about prospect of Arkansas lotteryNews Story
Already falling short, Oklahoma Lottery sales could suffer even more from Arkansas competition A proposed lottery in Arkansas would devote more sales revenue to prizes, giving it a critical advantage over Oklahoma's game, Oklahoma's lottery director says. Oklahoma law requires 35 percent of sales revenue to go to the state, reducing the size of jackpots, making the game less attractive, hurting sales and ultimately resulting in less money for the state, lottery director Jim Scroggins told
Sep 19, 2008, 12:15 pm - Lottery News

Arkansas lottery certified for November ballotNews Story
The Arkansas secretary of state's office certified a proposed constitutional amendment for the November ballot Monday that would allow voters to decide Lt. Gov. Bill Halter's measure for a state-run lottery to fund college scholarships. Only an anti-democratic move from some other party to try to get this initiative thrown off the ballot will deny Arkansas voters the right and the opportunity to decide this issue for themselves, Halter said at a Capitol news conference announcing certificat
Jul 23, 2008, 9:18 am - Lottery News

Arkansas Lt. Gov. pushes lottery proposalNews Story
Four times members of Lt. Gov. Bill Halter's staff have traveled to various corners of Arkansas to speak about the lottery proposal. When college has never been more important to Arkansas, it's also never been more expensive. Halter says Arkansas needs more college graduates. And the way to fund that is to keep some of the dollars flying out of Arkansas to neighboring states lottery games. Halter says, In Texas alone they raised more than a billion dollars for education last year off of t
Jul 15, 2008, 6:54 pm - Lottery News

Petition submitted for starting Arkansas lotteryNews Story
Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter submitted 138,615 signatures Thursday in support of a constitutional amendment creating a state-run lottery, moving his proposal to help fund college scholarships closer toward appearing on the November ballot. Supporters needed 77,468 signatures by July 7 to get the measure on the November ballot. Tim Humphries, an attorney for the secretary of state's office, said officials will count and certify the valid signatures on July 7 and Halter will have 30 days to su
Jun 27, 2008, 8:45 am - Lottery News

Arkansas watches as Tenn rethinks lottery scholarshipsNews Story
If Lt. Gov. Bill Halter's push for a state lottery is successful, Arkansas legislators may want to consider Tennessee's dilemma before writing rules for spending proceeds that would be earmarked exclusively for college scholarships. Arkansas' eastern neighbor is struggling with what to do with an unintended $460 million surplus from that state's version of a scholarship lottery. Part of the problem is that many scholarship recipients have not been able to maintain grades good enough to keep t
Apr 14, 2008, 10:21 am - Lottery News

Arkansas lottery plan garners some supportNews Story
Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter found support Thursday among Arkansas' city officials for his proposed constitutional amendment to establish a state-run lottery. The proposal, for which supporters are gathering signatures to place on the November general election ballot, would earmark lottery proceeds for college scholarships. Using a football analogy Thursday, Halter pitched his proposal to the winter conference of the Arkansas Municipal League as a way to move Arkansas from mired at or nea
Jan 11, 2008, 9:11 am - Lottery News

Arkansas builder donates $300K to get lottery startedNews Story
A Little Rock, Arkansas, developer said Tuesday he and his family has pledged $300,000 to Lt. Gov. Bill Halter's push to get state lottery proposed on the 2008 general election ballot. John Bailey, owner of Bailey Properties, said he was willing to help finance a campaign for a proposed constitutional amendment because he believes a state lottery with all of the money going into college scholarships, would benefit the state and its economy. I just think it's a great idea, Bailey said, a
Oct 10, 2007, 11:08 pm - Lottery News

Arkansas Lt. Gov. proposes state lottery in '08News Story
On Tuesday, Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter said he hopes to have a state lottery on the ballot by 2008. That gives Arkansas voters the opportunity to decide for themselves whether or not the state should have a lottery, with all of the proceeds going to scholarship assistance to Arkansas students, said Halter. Currently Arkansas is only one of eight states across the nation without a state lottery in place. Neighboring Mississippi and Alabama are among others. But state
Sep 19, 2007, 3:02 pm - Lottery News

Arkansas lottery surfaces againNews Story
The Arkansas Supreme Court's order to boost funding for public schools could bring proposals for a state lottery front and center again. At least two candidates for statewide office are touting a lottery as the way to solve funding shortfalls, and a legislator and long-time supporter of a lottery said he may push for such an initiative during a special session. Newly announced gubernatorial candidate Bill Halter, a Democrat, used his announcement speech to call for a lottery to pay for e
Feb 7, 2006, 10:15 am - Lottery News