European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 26, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine More states join by Christopher Sullivan associated press w Hen missourians crossed their lingers and lined up to buy Jackpot 86" tickets in mid january their became the latest stale to bet on lotteries As a source of Revenue a Wager that returned $10 billion to 20 states and the District of Columbia last year. Of the 24 lotteries of rating including a regional game in new England six started within the last nine months. Opposition to  games on moral grounds remains firm in Many places in others observers say it has eroded. In All americans won about $5 billion in jackpots and lottery spending is on the Rise according to a Survey by associated press. This year 17 state Legislatures Are considering measures to legalize the games while ballot proposals Are being pushed in two other states Florida and Nevada. Last year s $10 billion in Gross ticket sales netted More than $4 billion for state coffers. Missouri s is the second new state sponsored lottery of 1986, following West Virginia which kicked Olf its game Jan. 9. Since i Start last oct. 3, California s huge lottery has taken in $800 million paying half that amount in prizes. Also taking a Chance on lotteries last year were Oregon and Iowa while Maine new Hampshire and Vermont pooled resources to add a weekly regional lottery to their Dally individual state games. Opposition to the lottery As a Revenue Raiser is getting less and less As it becomes More and More a fact of Hie said Ray Grimes spokesman for Rhode Island s lottery which grossed $52 million in fiscal 1985. I detect some softening agreed state Senate president Jim Rolsch in Idaho one of several states where legislators Are considering measures to remove a constitutional prohibition against lotteries. In Idaho and Many other places there Are difficult hurdles 1o Clear to get an amendment proposal on the ballot but some surveys indicate voters support the games. Asked about the prospects of passage of an Idaho Wollery referendum one supporter state sen. Vernon Lannen said he d give 2-to-1 Odds and i d borrow an awful lot of  supporters like Virginia legislator . O Brien Call the lottery a voluntary  what s wrong with someone purchasing a 50-cent Chance on a dream wondered state sen. Lawrence Borst of Indiana where a lottery Bill is Given Little Chance of passage. Lottery Revenue support education and other Public causes helping to forestall tax increases. Together the new York Ohio and Illinois lotteries generated $1.5 billion for schools while Pennsylvania s produced $565 million to help the elderly. Still not All agree that the end justifies the Means. We can t Wash gambling Money clean insisted Jane Fribley past president of the Indiana Council of churches. And even lottery backers in some states criticize the use of Slick advertising to promote the  s a a loft said the Rev. Allen Rice executive director of the Michigan interfaith Council on alcohol problems. It is the function of government to help people not exploit  almost everywhere that lotteries operated last year sales were up and four states grossed More than a billion dollars apiece Pennsylvania with $1.3 billion new York $1.3 billion Illinois $1.2 billion and Massachusetts $1 billion. Our impression is that As we maintain sales and contributions to the state general fund at the Levels we projected the opposition tends to be  said lottery spokesman Dick Bulson in Washington where the games netted $68.8 million Lor the state mostly for schools and social programs. In Michigan lottery spokeswoman Laurie Kipp said ticket Sale revenues made up Lor Money endangered by Federal budget cuts noting that last year lottery Money going toward education exceeded Federal allotments for the first time. Ii it were not Lor the lottery Revenue this past fiscal year it would have Cost Michigan households nearly $115 More each to keep school Aid at the same level she said. Federal reductions were cited by Kansas state sen. Olive l. Duval ii when he introduced his lottery Bill this year and other officials from Alabama to the nation s capital made the same argument. We re suffering As much As any jurisdiction said Kay Hixson chief of marketing for . Lottery which grossed $112 million. Lottery Success Breeds More lotteries and backers of the games in Kentucky say the fact that their state is virtually surrounded by lottery states with reports of instant millionaires just across the state lines can Only help their cause. Frank Mirabella a spokesman for the Lorida groups pushing for a lottery referendum argued sixty percent of the people in this country live in a state with a lottery. There Are a lot of people moving in irom those states or people who have family or fiends in a stale with a lottery. They know most of the arguments against them Are just not  pro lottery forces often tailor their pleas to answer local issues and worries. Part of Iowa s lottery Revenue. By Law supports a gambling addicts hotline. In Minnesota and South Dakota proponents Sny revenues from proposed lotteries could help Farmers compensating them Lor taking land out of production or lessening their heavy Load of debt. Agreeing South Dakota Senate minority loader Roger Mckellips said i used to be opposed to it but we have to take unusual measures in unusual  the planned uses for ticket Sale Revenue Range irom stadium construction in Maryland As officials strive to hold on to their professional sports teams to property tax Relief a plan that supporters say gives Wisconsin s lottery Bill a belter Chance. Still opponents note that lottery Revenue in Many states amounts to a Small share of state expenses and As Tennessee state sen. Riley Darnell notes there s no easy Way to pay taxes to run government without paying  Lloyd Christle with hit wife Nilva. Christ the won new York $10 million lottery Jackpot. Wednesday february 26, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 13