With so much attention directed at the traditional gaming bills that were introduced for the regular session, the Louisiana Lottery Corporation has received nary a political glance at the Capitol lately.
But out of sight doesn’t mean out of mind, especially as government officials, in tough economic times, continue to bank on a revenue stream generated by scratch-offs and pick-a-number tickets.
Asked for an outlook report, Lottery President Rose Hudson told LaPolitics that there are national and regional trends worth tracking that could influence her outfit’s record sales of late. New types of games are growing in popularity, jackpot sizes are increasingly unpredictable and competing state lotto systems are being proposed.
Then there are more immediate issues, like which, if any, of the ongoing session’s key gaming bills will be enacted. There are bills pending in the legislative process related to sports betting, riverboat casinos, the state’s lone land-based casino, video poker, horse racing and more.
Hudson said her office has been mindful of these policy discussions, but she doesn’t see any direct threats for the Lottery from the proposals, some of which expand gaming. That’s because the Lottery has long enjoyed a mutually beneficial business relationship with the state’s casinos, she added, through bulk scratch-off purchases and cross-marketing initiatives.
The Lottery, however, wasn’t completely left out of the regular session shuffle. There are actually two bills, authored by Sen. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans, that pulled Hudson and her team directly into the orbit of the Capitol’s annual policymaking gathering.
Carter’s SB 244 is a constitutional amendment that would create three new lottery games. His SB 407 would deposit their proceeds into three separate funds to benefit veterans, seniors and the disabled. Neither has a clear path forward, lawmakers say.
The Carter package got jammed up in the committee process due to a five-year expenditure estimate of $16.4 million, which no one involved wanted, including Lottery officials. Additionally, opponents are concerned about the impact of eliminating old games to make way for the new.
As for the earnings of those current products, this year’s sales are so far up 8.8 percent at the Lottery. But future sales projections are unpredictable across the industry, due primarily to fluctuating jackpots. In other words, when prizes balloon, so do sales.
While new, constitutionally-created games may not be on the horizon, Lottery officials do see opportunities to expand and enhance. Merchandising scratch-offs, like the one produced for the New Orleans Saints professional football team, have been popular and represent a growth area.
For the past few weeks, the live self-help program on Houma’s HTV Channel 10 has been dealing with “The ABC’s of Faith.” Panelists have been breaking down the meaning of these ABC’s. In today’s column I want to my reader to know the scripture passages behind the words. There are different translations in various Bibles so some of these quotations may not be the same as the Bible you are reading. However, the meaning is the same.
Ask and it will be given to you. (Lk 11:9) “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who Believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25) Consider the lilies. “If God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you.” (Lk 12:27-28)
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Lk 6:31) “Therefore Encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.” (1 Th 5:11) “If you do not Forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matt 6:15)
“Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.” (Matt 5:42) “For in Hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope.” (Rom 8:25) “You yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to Instruct one another.” (Rom 15:14) “Do not Judge, so that you may not be judged.” (Matt 7:1)
“Knock, and the door will be opened for you.” (Lk 11:9) “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mk 12:31) “To set the Mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Matt 8:6) “Do not Neglect the gift that is in you.” (1 Tim 4:14) “Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” (Rom 13:8)
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who Practice it have a good understanding.” (Psa 111:10) “You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be Quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.” (James 1:19-20) “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” (Phil 4:4)
“Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually.” (Psa 105:4) “Take good care to observe the commandment and instruction that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, and to hold fast to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Jos 22:5)
“Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly Understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” (Acts 10:34-35) My children, be true to your training and be at peace; hidden wisdom and unseen treasure – of what Value are these?” (Sira 41-14)
“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to Walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8) “So with yourselves; since you are eager for spiritual gifts, strive to eXcel in them for building up the church.” (1 Cor 14:12)
“He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like Yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.’” (Matt 13:33) “I resolve to live according to wisdom, and I was Zealous for the good, and I shall never be disappointed.” (Sira 51:10)
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