The Oklahoma Lottery: Good or Bad???

The Oklahoma lottery has both pros and cons yet ultimately the benefits have outweighed the potential shortcomings.  According to the Oklahoma Lottery Commission,

“On November 2, 2004, Oklahomans overwhelmingly voted to pass the "Oklahoma Education Act". Net proceeds of all lottery games will be used to support improvements and enhancements for education purposes and programs; furthermore, net proceeds will be used to SUPPLEMENT rather than replace existing funds for education. Proceeds will benefit all levels of education from Pre-K to higher education.” (Oklahoma)

This Utopian concept of using the proceeds from the lottery to fund education sounds as if all of the schools in Oklahoma will receive new computers and hire more teachers of a higher quality.  The harsh reality is something all together different. Only thirty five percent of the money made from the lottery actually gets earmarked to fund education in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Family Policy Council says about the lottery,

“Oklahoma Family Policy Council's position is that a state lottery—in whatever form—is simply bad public policy and problematic for a number of very strong intellectual, economic, philosophical, moral and theological reasons.”(Gambling)

The fear associated with irresponsible gambling is the most common argument against the lottery in Oklahoma. After searching through the library of Gambler Anonymous, National Center for Responsible Gambling, and the Responsible Gambling Center I was unable to locate any research on the effects of the lottery as it pertains to gambling. Almost as if playing the lottery is not gambling in the eyes of the major research institutes for gambling.  If none of the major research institutes have taken the time to research and write on the subject then the matter must not be of great importance.

The Oklahoma State Department of Education says,

“ Article X, Section 41, of the Oklahoma Constitution says, the Legislature {shall not use funds from the Trust Fund to supplant or replace other state funds supporting common education, higher education and career and technology education.} The State Board of Equalization ultimately has the responsibility of determining whether or not funds are being appropriated as outlined in the constitutional amendment which created the lottery for education. The Board of Equalization is to issue findings in regard to the appropriations in February of each year.” (Education)

Oversight into the funding and appropriation of funds invested into the Oklahoma Lottery is the key factor to maintaining capital for education and it gives the voters of Oklahoma assurances that the money will be earmarked and spent to improve education.

            The people of Oklahoma vote overwhelmingly to pass the HB 1278 which the Oklahoma State Senate explains as,

“House Bill No. 1278 was approved by both houses of the Legislature in 2003. It sends to a vote of the people a proposal for a state lottery (State Question No. 705; Legislative Referendum No. 330). The proposal provides for the creation of a state entity, the Oklahoma Lottery Commission, which would operate the lottery. The measure also requires that at least 45% of the revenue from ticket sales will be returned as prizes. It requires that the net proceeds from the lottery be used for education purposes. The referendum specifically prohibits the operation of any lottery game using a video lottery machine. It also prohibits the sale or gift of lottery tickets to minors. It directs the first $500,000 of unclaimed prize money annually be transferred to the Department of Human Services for the treatment of compulsive gambling disorder. The Oklahoma Lottery Commission is authorized to issue up to $10,000,000 in bonds for start-up costs of the lottery to be repaid from future lottery revenue.” (Hobson)

The phrase the people have spoken seems fitting in this instance. If we raise five dollars for Oklahoma Education that’s five dollars we didn’t have before and furthermore people will always find a way to self-destruct if it is in their DNA so the rest of us shouldn’t have to suffer.

            Governor Brad Henry says in the forward of our textbook,

“The pioneers who took part in the first land run of 1889 were drawn to the prospect of simple things: some property and a home in a land that seemed as vast and limitless as the magnificent skies that stretched along its horizon. From such unbridled hope and optimism emerged Oklahoma.” (Henry)

Like the pioneers of the land run we as Oklahomans are drawn to the gas station with prospect of simple things: give the cashier a dollar and in return they will hand you not a simple ticket or piece of paper but your dreams. Sure there are both pros and cons to the Oklahoma Lottery but supplementing school funds with thirty-five percent of the proceeds from the lottery and a chance at your dreams. To date the Oklahoma Lottery has contributed 232 Million dollars to Oklahoma’s educational system and I think that tells the whole story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work Cited:

 

"Oklahoma Lottery Commission Beneficiary." Oklahoma Lottery Commission. Oklahoma Lottery Commission.

     23 Nov. 2008 .

 

"Gambling." Oklahoma Family Policy Council. Oklahoma Family Policy Council. 23 Nov. 2008

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Oklahoma State Department of Education. 24 Nov. 2008

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Oklahoma State Senate. Legislative Brief June 2004. By Cal Hobson. 24 Nov. 2008

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Sharp, Brett, and Christopher L Markwood. Oklahoma Government & Politics An Introduction. 1998. 4th

     ed. Dubuque: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 2007.