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N.C. Democrats feel heat on lotteryNews Story
In North Carolina, legislative leaders trying to break a logjam on the state's budget are pressing reluctant House Democrats to support a much more aggressively advertised lottery than the version that squeaked through the House in April.Several House members have opposed a lottery that would attract ticket buyers through billboard, TV and radio campaigns that promote big-dollar jackpots. They fear such a lottery would prey on people who could least afford to play it.In exchange for supporting a
Aug 3, 2005, 8:09 am - Lottery News

Still no consensus in N.C. lottery talksNews Story
Differences over a proposed North Carolina lottery surfaced from the budget negotiations Monday, as time dwindled before an end-of-the-week deadline to approve a spending plan for state government.North Carolina is the only East Coast state without a numbers game, but House and Senate leaders and Gov. Mike Easley all Democrats are trying to create one before the Legislature adjourns for the year.The House passed a lottery game in April by a two-vote margin. But the Senate approved a budget p
Aug 2, 2005, 8:42 am - Lottery News

Calif. Lottery uses trick as Dems continue undermining Mega MillionsNews Story
The California Lottery admitted Monday they used a state official, who misrepresented herself as a freelance reporter, as an operative in the legal battle over constitutionality of the multistate Mega Millions game in California.In other developments, lawmakers indicated they may reject confirmation of Lottery Commission appointees who voted for the game and disclosed they are planning to unveil a bill today to make Mega Millions legal here, despite the lottery's claim it has not broken the law.
Jul 12, 2005, 9:21 am - Lottery News

Calif. Democrat criticizes lottery's 'weak case'News Story
The state lottery said Thursday it would continue selling Mega Millions tickets as it fights an anti-gambling group's lawsuit that seeks an immediate shutdown on the grounds the multi-state game is unconstitutional in California.But a state senator said an uphill legal battle ultimately could cost schools hundreds of millions of dollars and permanently damage the lottery's reputation. The lottery is going into court with a fairly weak case, said state Sen. Dean Florez, a Bakersfield-area Democr
Jul 8, 2005, 2:51 pm - Lottery News

NJ House rejects lottery appropriation for teachersNews Story
The New Jersey House of Representatives rejected yesterday the Senate amendment to appropriate $33,000 in unclaimed lottery funds to full-time Public School System teachers.House Education Committee chair Justo S. Quitugua said the bill now goes to the conference committee for resolution.He said there is a need to change some language in the bill. For instance, he said that, if the entire fund of $33,000 is distributed among the 500 PSS teachers, each recipient would only end up getting $66. I
Jul 6, 2005, 8:09 am - Lottery News

North Carolina Still Working To Establish LotteryNews Story
It's a sure bet that if North Carolina becomes the final state on the East Coast to offer a lottery, supporters say, lawmakers will have hundreds of millions of new dollars to spend every year on education.But just as certain, opponents argue, is that as revenues rise, so will the number of North Carolinians addicted to gambling. The lottery will hurt a lot of people. It's a tax on the poor. It affects families, said Tom Spampinato of Cary, who spent 22 years battling a gambling addiction. He i
Jul 1, 2005, 12:18 pm - Lottery News

Georgia lottery bill would protect education fundsNews Story
Ralph Reed, a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, on Thursday endorsed Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue's call for a state constitutional amendment that would prevent lottery money from being used for anything except HOPE college scholarships, pre-kindergarten classes and building up financial reserves. Competition to the lottery from surrounding states is increasing, revenues will level off over the long haul, and we need this measure to ensure long-term fiscal solvency, Reed said.Reed's on
Jul 1, 2005, 8:48 am - Lottery News

Rhode Island lawmakers to create separate lottery divisionNews Story
The idea of abolishing the legislator-dominated Rhode Island Lottery Commission got its first hearing and a warm welcome from the governor at the General Assembly last night.The question of what to do with the board which is responsible for the state's third-largest revenue source has been an issue since the November passage of a separation-of-powers constitutional amendment. The amendment bars lawmakers from sitting on state boards and commissions with executive functions.The Lottery Co
Jun 24, 2005, 12:54 pm - Lottery News

CA Lottery spars with legislator over Mega Millions legalityNews Story
California lottery officials told a Senate committee Tuesday that they had the power to join the multistate Mega Millions lotto game even though the authorization wasn't spelled out in the 1984 initiative that set up the lottery.The Legislature's attorneys disagreed, and a key lawmaker said he would introduce legislation that would allow California to participate in Mega Millions but require the other 11 states to pay the bulk of administrative costs.Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, said the legisla
Jun 22, 2005, 7:54 pm - Lottery News

N.C. lottery talk building to a climaxNews Story
With passage of a $17.1 billion budget bill by the North Carolina House of Representatives last week, the lottery debate is heating up in North Carolina.Lottery provisions have been included in the budget plan if it does become law. But much negotiation remains between the Senate and the House before that comes to pass, and the lottery could be on shaky ground. We're just hoping the Senate will go along with the House version, said state Rep. Jim Crawford (D-32nd), who represents Granville and
Jun 20, 2005, 3:48 pm - Lottery News