While state law requires lottery tickets to be sold only in person, it was revealed last week that the Texas Lottery Commission has allowed retailers to sell “digital” scratch-off games online. Pitched to voters in the early 1990s as a way to fund public education, all the proceeds generated since its inception would not be enough to pay for a single year of operation.
The lottery is under Sunset Review by the Legislature to determine whether it should be continued. Yesterday, we asked readers whether lawmakers should keep it or disband it.
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Here is a sampling of the comments we received from our readers after they voted in the survey.
“Gambling is like a Trojan horse, looks like a gift but leads to addiction and poverty for many.” – Sherrye Nail
“The Texas lottery is a disaster. Like all gambling, it ends up hurting the poorest among us and never delivers on what it promises. And when they say it can also be for entertainment purposes, they willingly turn a blind eye to gambling addiction.” – Joe Wooddell
“Called a poor man’s tax that raises false hopes of riches instead of promoting hard work to get ahead.” – Charlene Kuprel
“Texas should keep the lottery but enforce the law. Those who broke the law should be fired from their jobs and punished for any criminal actions. Governor Abbott needs to take action to reform the Lottery Commission.” – John Pringle
“The government should never run a lottery or any other gambling operation.” – Kevin Wade
“Of course, we should keep the Texas Lottery Commission and the various games…however, the profits do not seem to be filtering down to fund education and schools, infrastructure, healthcare… the money could/should be used for some important unaddressed issues like quality water…more stable electrical grid, roads and transportation…so many IMPORTANT issues to resolve…” – Michelle Zara
“The lottery, meant to fund public education, is just one example of how government involvement often leads to broken promises and inefficiency, with the public left to bear the cost.” – Molly Gail
“It seems the Texas voters have been taken advantage of. It the Texas Lottery Commission can’t even follow the rules, why should they still exist? Get rid of the whole thing. There are plenty of other gambling venues that people can use if they want, but Texas shouldn’t be one of them.” – William Chapman
“The Lottery Commission has blatantly violated state law… period. This disregard for the law is a clear example of why government involvement often leads to mismanagement and negative outcomes for its constituents.” – Sharla Miles
“I never wanted the lottery instituted in the first place. The research even before 1991 reveals that it has negative outcomes that compromise the fiscal, mental and social factors of a culture. Gambling is a process addiction, often more difficult to overcome than a chemical one. This is why I am against the legalization of casinos in Texas. Research reveals, again, that communities deteriorate in their vicinity. ” – Mark Bigley
“‘For the children’… what a load of bull. Anytime you hear that expression guard your wallet, it’s a scam.” – Paul McDowell
“The Texas Lottery was only approved by voters under the false pretense that the money would go to public education. It has never gone to public education and, therefore, should be done away with.” – Rhayma Keith
“I would keep it but get rid of online sales of all games.” – Mike Masterson
Surprise, Surprise! It doesn’t do what liberals said it would do!” – Glenda Piacenti
