Kansas Lottery is in the money

With Kansas on the verge of getting into the casino business, it was interesting to learn that the Kansas Lottery had record sales in the fiscal year that ended June 30 — nearly $241 million, up 2 percent from record-setting fiscal 2006. Accordingly, the amount of lottery revenue being transferred to state coffers is $71 million, the biggest annual transfer since the lottery began in 1987. Ed Van Petten, Kansas Lottery executive director, credited the introduction of a $20 scratch ticket and new “online” lottery games, as well as business and tourism promotions. In any case, the latest numbers aren’t about big Powerball jackpots; Powerball sales in the state were down more than 27 percent.
And this seems another good opportunity to try to dispel that persistent rumor that lottery revenue was supposed to help fund Kansas schools. That was discussed prior to the 1986 vote authorizing the lottery but was never part of the law. The proceeds go to economic development, prison construction and maintenance, local juvenile detention facilities and problem gambling assistance.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

8 Comments

  1. Joe Williams
    Posted July 15, 2007 at 1:50 am | Permalink

    Yet people fail to realize that gaming already exist in our community.

    Nobody gambles until a Casino comes in right?

    Kudos to the WE for bringing a week long series on the issue of casinos in other communities to give a real perspective vs the alternative of Sodom and Gomorrah stories from the “CasiNO” crowd.

  2. mrbill
    Posted July 15, 2007 at 3:02 am | Permalink

    Not surprising the sales are up..economy is going great…even though the MSM wont dare cover it since it would shine light on tax cuts etc. Deficit is cut in half BEFORE Bush said it would be. Tax receipts are higher than they have ever been.

    All of this would have been..(and was) Big Black Headlines when Clinton was Pres. Every day…look at Dow record..blah, blah etc. But apparently different now…heh.

    Market is at all time high. Up 9 to 13% depending on which market.

    So lots of disposable income. Planes are on order and local industry hiring people 400 at at time.

    To bad everybody has their head stuck in the War sand.

    Move on. Lots of other things going on.

  3. Jerry Weaver
    Posted July 15, 2007 at 5:19 am | Permalink

    A lottery is simply a tax on the mathematically impaired. Why not raise revenues the honest way and just raise taxes instead?

  4. Dennis
    Posted July 15, 2007 at 3:06 pm | Permalink

    Yeah, we know the odds, Jerry, but it is the action. Don’t be a grump. It’s a lot more fun to buy a lottery ticket once in a while than it is to pay taxes.

  5. CapnAmerica
    Posted July 15, 2007 at 6:12 pm | Permalink

    Money goes to “economic development.”

    In other words, more socialism for the rich.

  6. CapnAmerica
    Posted July 15, 2007 at 6:14 pm | Permalink

    Mr. Bill–

    Yup. War usually has a stimulating effect on the economy.

    “If we can find money to kill people, why can’t we find money to help people?” Old Labour Party guy in the documentary film “SiCKO”

  7. GMC70
    Posted July 16, 2007 at 1:05 am | Permalink

    A tax on the stupid. Makes ya feel proud, huh?

  8. CapnAmerica
    Posted July 16, 2007 at 1:38 am | Permalink

    Doesn’t make me feel proud, GMC.

    For the record, I’m against a casino.

    But I’m for the right of people to vote on it.