Scott Powers
Lottery tickets, and places that sell them, could come with a warning: “Gambling can be addictive,” under a bill approved Tuesday afternoon by the Senate Committee on Regulated Industries.
Senate Bill 1370 may go where some Florida lawmakers are uncomfortable to follow, declaring the state’s lottery games to be a form of gambling.
As a result, the bill got a few no votes, including one from Democratic state Sen. Audrey Gibson of Jacksonville.
But the bill’s sponsor, Republican state Rep. Keith Perry of Gainesville, said he believes the Lottery is gambling and needs the warning; a majority on the committee agreed.
“This bill seeks to better inform individuals that gaming can be addictive,” Perry said.
The bill would require the Florida Lottery Commission to have all vendors and retailers place or print a warning on all lottery tickets, and on prominent signs in retailers which sell them, which read: “WARNING: GAMBLING CAN BE ADDICTIVE.”
The bill does not call for a phone number to also be printed for people to call if they fear they are addicted, but Perry said he would be open to such in an amendment.
Gibson, who asked about that, pressed Perry for what she saw as the heart of the issue, that the bill would have the Florida Legislature declaring that the Lottery is a form of gambling.
“I don’t consider the purchase of those products offered by the lottery to be gambling,” she said. “And I’m not inclined to support these [warning] statements either.”
The companion, House Bill 937, is in the House Commerce Committee.
One comment
LSB
April 4, 2017 at 4:47 pm
Without question, this is one of the most idiotic proposals that I have seen in my adult life. Whether or not the lottery is a form of gambling is irrelevant. The bill might have just as easily read that eating too much sour cream on baked potatoes can lead to obesity. That would be idiotic, too. Does Rep. Perry have nothing better to do? Keep in mind, everybody, that tax dollars go to pay his salary, staff, and office expenses. Truly idiotic.
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