Press release for immediate release.
Today, the Arkansas Lottery Commission voted unanimously to install 100 lottery ticket vending machines in retail outlets across the state of Arkansas. Their vote came on the heels of a 30-day public comment period in which citizens were allowed to voice their opinion of the machines.
Family Council, the Arkansas Faith and Ethics Council, and other groups opposed the machines.
In a statement on Thursday, Family Council President Jerry Cox said, “We appreciate the opportunity to discuss lottery ticket vending machines with the Lottery Commission.
Unfortunately, they ignored the fact that over 90% of the comments they received were in opposition to the machines. They asked the public what they should do about the machines. 90% of the public told them not to install them. So the Lottery Commission did just the opposite and voted to install the machines.
The Arkansas Lottery Commission has run roughshod over the people. If they weren’t willing to follow the will of the people, why did they ask for public comments in the first place?”
Cox said the fight against these machines is by no means over, listing three things his group plans to do. “We’re going to present testimony to the Legislative Oversight Committee as to why they should do all they can do to stop the Lottery Commission from installing these machines. We’re also going to obtain a list of all retail outlets where these machines will be located and appeal directly to them not to allow the machines in their places of business. And finally, we’re going to recruit sponsors and support for a law to totally ban lottery ticket vending machines.”
