The Mississippi House of Representatives voted twice last week to authorize a state lottery, but the effort is expected to be defeated in the Republican-controlled Senate.
House Democrat Tommy Reynolds added a lottery provision to Senate Bill 2541, which would set rules for online fantasy sports contests. The measure calls for half of lottery proceeds to go to public education and half to county road and bridge maintenance.
Reynolds said he doesn’t support gambling, but that if it’s going to happen, the benefits should stay in Mississippi instead of going to neighboring states.
“I didn’t vote for any of it,” he said. “I don’t like this bill, but it’s here, so I would like to get some money out of it.”
The second yes vote came on an amendment attached by Rep. Alyce Clarke, to Senate Bill 2524, originally written to revise pay for supervisors of charity bingo games. Her measure calls for the Mississippi Gaming Commission to establish a lottery to fund education.
Clarke, a longtime supporter of lotteries, said, “I’ve been bringing this lottery bill up here for 25 years.”
Mississippi voters legalized the possibility of a state lottery in 1992, but many legislators oppose the games on religious grounds.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Joey Fillingane, said both House proposals will be dead on arrival in the Senate.
“I don’t think there’s any appetite in the Senate for a lottery,” he told The Associated Press after the House votes. “I’m betting against it.”
