Will you play the Arkansas lottery?
Back before last year’s elections, the state lottery was a hot topic.
Then in November, Arkansas voted in favor of the lottery bill, and in the Spring of this year, the Arkansas lottery had cleared the legislative hurdles it needed to clear, and is on track to set a record turn time from voting to implementation when it goes into effect on September 28th.
All the lottery talk had died down a bit until last month when Arkansas State Senator Sue Madison drafted a bill intending to squash the state lottery before it begins.
Now that the discussion is back on the table, we decided to venture down to Wilson Park to see how some Fayetteville residents feel about the Arkansas lottery now.
“Will you play the Arkansas State Lottery?”
(Asked at Wilson Park on August 12th, 2009)
“Can’t because I’m not 21, but if I could I would because it goes to our education.”
“Probably not, because I’m really lazy and it takes a lot of effort.”
“I’ll play, and we’ll see how it goes. We’ll see if they use the money for what they say they are going to use it for.”
“I don’t think I will. I never have in any other state I’ve lived in, and I don’t think I will here either.”
“I would if I was old enough, because it helps support the community.”
Comments
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Tom Sawyer
August 12, 2009
Will I play? Probably. Will I buy my tickets in Arkansas? Probably not. Since the wizards at the Lottery decided to join in on the “Powerball” lottery, I will still buy my tickets from the little shop I have come to have a relationship with. Arkansas should have joined “MegaMillions.” Every state surrounding Arkansas is a member of Powerball – Louisiana, Missouri, Tenneesee, Oklahoma… only Texas has MegaMillions. Their kneejerk “we want Powerball money to stay in Arkansas” reaction has lost them all the money they would have scored by joining MegaMillions. Not only would Arkansans have purchased state lottery and MegaMillions, but all of those “border towns” around the state would have drawn in players to grab MegaMillions… sure, some Arkansans would go out of state to byu Powerball, but they would have bought MegaMillions as well! Idiots.
Thomas
August 12, 2009
It’s Thomas, not Pat.
Todd Gill
August 12, 2009
Sorry for the mix-up, Thomas.
Tony Wappel
August 12, 2009
I wont play it; I’ll save my hard-earned dollars for my sweet tooth addiction instead. Although Im not against gambling, I’m afraid most of the proceeds will pay for administration of it rather than scholarships, as intended. When I feel lucky, I drive to Siloam (and usually am kicking myself on the way back.)
baribeau
August 12, 2009
i will play…occasionally, and it will be great to see the numbers on where the money goes.
interested party
August 12, 2009
I think I am going to wait and see if they give them money to education like they have promised. I know in other states it hasn’t happened. It also concerns me that the administrators are making big bucks already.
Beebs
August 13, 2009
I’ll play it. But only to better my personal financial situation though.
Turn
August 17, 2009
“Flyer Street View…opinions from around town”
looks like the interviews with photos were one demographic, hardly matches the title of this column.
CK
August 25, 2009
Hey Tom,
So people from out of state can do Mega Millions from AR? Do tell…
David L.
November 6, 2009
I would be willing to play pick 3. Whereas, the odds are 500 to 1.
Power Ball odds, on the other hand, are several million to 1. I will not waste my and time money on PB.
Scott Estes
November 13, 2009
Looks like we *will* be getting Mega Millions in addition to PowerBall.
http://myarkansaslottery.com/games