Florida Governor Rick Scott wants Leon County Circuit Judge Karen Gievers to toss out Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran’s lawsuit in against state Lottery Secretary Tom Delacenserie. Corcoran’s lawsuit contends Delacenserie violated state law when he signed a 0 million contract with IGT Global Solutions to run certain aspects of the Florida Lottery, including the systems used to sell tickets for games like Powerball and Mega Millions.
Corcoran said the contract signed last September is illegal because it exceeds the authorized Florida Lottery budget. “This lawsuit filed today is about the rule of law and the protection of taxpayers. In addition, I hope our actions today serve as a warning to any agency playing fast and loose with the rules that the people have had enough.” Lottery officials already had asked legislators for more money to pay for the expansion, in hopes it could be offered by the end of this year. Corcoran said state agencies do “not have the right to obligate the taxpayers of Florida by even a penny beyond what the people’s elected representatives say they can.”
The contract would increase the number of automated ticket machines that can sell both scratch-off and games including Powerball from 2,000 to 5,500. The contract also calls for a new smartphone application allowing players to check their tickets and to enter second-chance sweepstakes.
Governor Rick Scott’s spokesperson Jackie Schutz criticized Corcoran, an attorney, for filing another lawsuit. “The Florida Lottery’s record sales have led to historic contributions to our state’s education system and the House sues? Not shocking to have another lawsuit from a trial lawyer,” Schutz said.
Lottery officials acknowledge the new contract is substantially larger than the previous one, even though sales for Powerball and similar games have remained steady for several years, excluding one year when a record jackpot increased sales. The officials defended the new contract it by saying it is tied to increased sales projections and IGT’s pay will decrease if sales go down. Also, the new contract is estimated to generate more revenue to be used for education, including the Bright Futures college scholarship program. Nearly $1.7 billion in profits is funding education this year. Following a brief hearing in Giever’s courtroom, Barry Richard, representing Delacenserie, said if the legislature “doesn’t like it, they don’t have to fund it.”
Since 2005, the Florida Lottery had a $387 million contract with GTECH, which merged with International Game Technology and changed its name to IGT Global Solutions. The new contract is worth up to $717 million, including an option extending it until 2031.
Gievers scheduled a trial for March 6.
