Bill

SB 397

84(R) - 2015
Senate Veteran Affairs & Military Installations
Senate Veteran Affairs & Military Installations
Military
Veterans

Vote Recommendation

No
  • Negative
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Negative
  • Neutral

Author(s)

José Rodríguez

Bill Caption

Relating to the marketing and advertising of the veterans' assistance lottery game.

Fiscal Notes

Based on information provided by the Texas Lottery Commission and the Comptroller of Public Accounts, increasing the point of sale advertising and website presence of the veteran's assistance lottery games could potentially have a positive effect on sales and a subsequent impact on revenue deposited into the Veterans Assistance Fund 368; however, the fiscal impact cannot be determined.

Bill Analysis

The bill would amend the Government Code relating to the marketing and advertising of the veterans' assistance lottery game. Specifically, SB 397 would require the Texas Lottery Commission to promote the veterans' assistance lottery game in specific ways with the intended result of increasing the number of people playing the game which would increase the revenue generated by the lottery.

Vote Recommendation Notes

It is our view that the Texas Lottery Commission already has the authority to do what is in the best business interests of the lottery, including deciding how and what advertising procedures work best. The legislature should not mandate the manner in which the commission market and promote any particular lottery game.

It is worth noting that Texas’ gambling laws are confusing and difficult to reconcile which leads to a major consistency problem on this issue. Most significantly, the state holds a monopoly on running lotteries. If the state contends that gambling is destructive to society, as it often does, the state should get out of the gambling business itself.

Because this legislation would result in increased ticket sales, it follows that this bill would further expand the state's monopoly lottery system. In our view this is both an improper role of government and an expansion of government. For these reasons we oppose SB 397.