RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina is set to become the final state on the East Coast to start a lottery after the lieutenant governor broke a state Senate tie Tuesday, voting to create a game that supporters have sought for more than 20 years, reported the Myrtle Beach Sun News.
Lieutenant Governor Beverly Perdue, the Senate's presiding officer, sided with most of her Democratic colleagues when she broke the 24 to 24 tie.
Scratchoff games may be available within six or seven months, said Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand (D). Numerical [image-nocss] games would follow. A nine-member state lottery commission will decide which kind of games will be offered, said the report. With the commission's OK, the director can enter the N.C. lottery into multistate agreements, such as Powerball or Mega Millions, it added.
At least 50% of total annual revenues would go toward prizes and at least 35% toward education initiatives, said the report.
The legislation will funnel an estimated $400 million annually to public school construction, college scholarships and Gov. Mike Easley's class-size reduction and preschool programs, the newspaper said.
The governor, who has championed the lottery since his election in 2001, was expected to sign the bill on Wednesday.
According to the report, polls showed that most state residents want a lottery.
South Carolina lottery and government officials and vendors near the North Caroline line feared that a Tarheel lottery could cost South Carolina's game more than $150 million a year in revenue and could take up to $45 million out of educational programs, South Carolina officials have said.
The measure passed the House by just two votes earlier this year. State Representative Dewey Hill (D) said he changed his mind and supported the lottery vote in the House when he saw how many North Carolinians were buying lottery tickets and other things at a convenience store just across the line from Tabor City.
Brunswick County Commissioner Bill Sue said he is not swayed by taxes on other things that North Carolina may be losing. He said the lottery will amount to a tax on the poor, who will spend money trying to get rich quick instead of on essentials.Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.