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Texas Lottery’s New Game Revenues to Go to Veterans’ Groups

This is such a cool idea… from news gathered from Associated Press.

You can call this gambling for the good of veterans.

The Texas Lottery Commission on Nov. 9 — two days before Veterans Day — will start selling the first scratch-off ticket dedicated to a cause other than public education.

The Veterans Cash scratch-off ticket is predicted to pour $9 million a year into veterans’ services when fully operational, and $5 million through the end of next August. The tickets will cost $2 each, with a top prize of $20,000. Officials said the lottery commission has printed more than 8.1 million of the scratch-offs, comparable to other $2 games.

Texas’ legislators Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, and Rep. Chris Turner, D-Burleson, said the dedicated ticket, backed by veterans’ groups and created under a new state law, was a tough sell.

“I found out quickly that there’s a reason we’ve had a lottery for nearly 20 years in Texas and no one has ever managed to pass a bill to create a dedicated game like this,” said Turner.

The lawmakers said they assured colleagues that, based on the experience of other states with similar games dedicated to veterans, the new approach would not siphon money from education.

Backers said they expect that people who normally may not play the lottery will buy the vet tickets, as well as others.

Veterans groups plan a push to let their members know about the new game. John Miterko of the Vietnam Veterans of America called it “veterans helping veterans.”

After the usual deduction for prizes and other costs, 23 percent of ticket proceeds will go to the Permanent Fund for Veterans’ Assistance. The fund was created by the Legislature in 2007 to be funded by grants and gifts. The money will be used for such services as transportation to veterans’ hospitals, counseling and housing for homeless veterans.

HOO-RAH.

Great idea. More state lotteries should pick up on this idea, don’t you think?

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