It has been revealed that the Texas Lottery Commission facilitated a foreign group to rig a jackpot in what one state senator described as a money laundering operation. In recent days, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has put a spotlight on the commission allowing illicit resellers (so-called “courier services”) to operate outside the bounds of state law.
Yesterday, we asked readers if the Texas Lottery should be reconstituted or abolished.
Here is a sampling of the responses we received from folks on the topic.
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“The entire lottery system is fraught with moral hazard. Simply band-aiding the scandals is insufficient.” – Stephen Casey
“The lottery has not ever accomplished what we were told it would do… fund education. It has just been another scheme to pad the pockets of corrupt individuals on the backs of the citizens of Texas! SHUT IT DOWN!” – Deb Hillis
“Like any form of gambling, it has been a cancer in our state from the beginning.” – Ken Bintliff
“Like everything government touches, the Texas Lottery Commission has become a festering, disease-ridden monster that needs to be stabbed through the heart with an iron stake. Close it. Shut it down. Light it on fire, then forget we ever had a lottery in Texas.” – Allison Love
“The lottery is a ‘tax’ on those who can least afford it and has become a haven for criminal activity. Abolish it and clean up Texas!” – Arthur McLean
“Instead of the Lottery, how about casinos? This would not only employ people in our state, it would also give people a chance to gamble a different way than buying lottery tickets.” – Melinda Slade
“Lotteries are nothing but slush funds for grifters.” – Jerrod Harrison
“Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Fix the identified problems and keep the revenue stream coming.” – Victor Johnson
“Rather than spend money on a lottery, if Texans would invest those dollars in a needy child, the Heavenly reward would be without measure!” – Dixie Mayer
“Abolish the whole lottery and prevent online sports betting and casino gambling while you’re at it.” – Al Crable
“Take the computer out of the process! Go back to having someone select numbers from the spinning bin. The Texas Lottery was fun—spend a dollar occasionally to win a few.” – Barbara Nash
“I voted against the lottery twice when I lived in California. The lottery caters to people who have no business playing.” – Randy Schroder
“Regarding the Texas lottery, it cannot be fixed. There are too many immoral people anymore. Abolish it for the good of the state.” – Cathe Harris
“Shutdown all digital lottery bundler operations. Require in-person, cash purchases only.” – Dennis Hauze
“Get rid of it! It hasn’t ever funded what it was voted in to fund: schools. Corruption is rampant apparently; not sure that revamping is a viable option at this point.” –Rhonda Pool
