Bills would limit lottery advertising, treat compulsive gambling

Bills would limit lottery advertising, treat compulsive gambling

By Lewis Delavan
Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — Bills filed today would limit Arkansas lottery advertising and boost spending to help treat gambling addictions.

The sponsor of both measures, Sen. Sue Madison, D-Fayetteville, said the lottery preys on the state’s poorest people and provides false hope for winning.

“Their chances of winning are certainly not very good,” she said. “The signs at stores say, ‘Win Here!.’ They should say, ‘Lose Here!’”

Senate Bill 753 would limit spending to no more than more than $1 million annually for lottery advertising.

Madison said she wants to ensure that as much money as possible is available for funding the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship.

The legislative committee that oversees the state lottery program voted Tuesday to recommend a 10 percent reduction in lottery scholarship amounts.

SB 747 would direct unclaimed lottery prize money to fund programs for the prevention, education and treatment of gambling addiction. Arkansas currently allocates $250,000 annually to treat gambling addiction. Madison’s bill would raise that to up to $3 million.

No one knows the extent that gambling addiction has increased since the lottery began, Madison said, adding, “I don’t think we are tracking that, and that scares me.”

Arkansas Scholarship Lottery has online information to help people determine if they have a gambling problem. The website urges people needing help to call the National Council on Problem Gambling hotline.

Rudy Garza of Bella Vista, who is certified by the council to provide counseling to compulsive gamblers, told the Arkansas News Bureau Thursday there has been a considerable increase in Arkansans calling the hotline since the lottery publicized it. He had no specific numbers.

Lottery spokeswoman Julie Baldridge said it is generally accepted that advertising increases a product’s chance of success. Cutting advertising could reduce the number of scholarships that could be offered, she said.

Madison said she plans to filed legislation next week that would place a moratorium on installing more lottery ticket vending machines. She said she wants the state to determine if machines have strategically been placed in poorer neighborhoods, and to ensure that minors do not have access.