Oklahoma Lottery Troubles
Sunday September 21, 2008
Arkansas residents will vote on a ballot measure creating their own lottery this November, a move that could negatively affect our own state games, yet another sign of trouble for an underperforming Oklahoma Lottery. Low prize payouts have always been an issue (Oklahoma has some of the lowest in the nation), and that situation could get even worse next year.When the lottery was first approved by voters in 2004, the law required 30 percent of sales to go to the state education system. It also specified an increase to 35 percent on July 1, 2009, a mandate some are attempting, thus far unsuccessfully, to remove. Last year's lottery revenues were millions below projections, and sales are even worse this year, causing officials to cut costs in a number of areas. For example, the Lottery Game Show will be canceled, its last show airing October 4th.
I understand many oppose decreasing the profit percentages for the state. But my guess is the majority of those were against the lottery in the first place and would like to see it fail. I suppose I'm in the anything-to-make-it-work camp. It seems to me that prize payouts absolutely must be increased if we are to see those vast benefits a successful lottery once promised, and I hope the legislature addresses the situation during its next session.
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Comments
If the state decision makers would have listened to lottery dynamics based out of dallas,tx. they would have had the very best in gaming idea’s.
lottery dynamics have patents on scratch off’s and lottery game’s that are outstanding and fun to play. the state of florida has recently incorporated lottery dynamics games into their own gaming skematics.
BUT NO! WE HAVE LAWMAKERS IN THIS STATE THAT ARE IGNORANT TO THEIR OWN GREED. WAKE UP OKLAHOMA.
I am a recent disabled veteran and I am not originally from Oklahoma, but what I’ve witnessed about Oklahoma is that the government is extremely disorganized. Everywhere you look you see cut-backs in the education system, but there is no way in hell the government can say it is the fault of the lottery. If that was the case then how did the education system last prior to the lottery? Here in Lawton every six months there is a new politician being brought up on charges for scamming the town. I believe that the same is going on with the lottery funds.
I also do not see how Oklahoma decides how much to pay a Powerball winner, because the only deductions that should come out are state and federal taxes. If the winning amount is $100 million dollars all Oklahoma pays the winner is about 35 to 40 million which is actually a form of fraud, because Oklahoma is not above the federal government, Oklahoma is suppose to take out the same percentage of taxes as they would for any person residing in Oklahoma that has that amount of money. Most people only play the Powerball; because the scratcher that Oklahoma has is a joke. Just about no one ever wins. Bottom line is that the federal government needs to step in and investigate just where the lotteries funds have been going since they dam sure have not been going to the schools.
Yes I agree the Oklahoma lottery is a joke. In the beginning I spent appox 10 to 20.00 a week on scatch offs. I never won anything over 2.00 I did this for months. (Stupid me) Now I donot do it at all. I can go to Texas and do the same thing and win something. Correct me if I am wrong but are we the only state that you can win another ticket in.
My suggestion is to increase the amount of people winning will increase the amount of people playing will increase the amount of revenue that comes in.
absolutely right. when I lived in Texas, I always won enought to keep playing, I’ve won a grand total of 9 bucks, now I play only when the sum gets to over 100mil, not worth it otherwise for the pay out and the chances are far greater that you won’t win anything than you something.