A bill that would limit the number of Florida Lottery scratch-off games and cap ticket prices at $5 was overwhelmingly approved by a House committee after lawmakers criticized the department for using the games to prey on the state’s poorest residents.
The House Government Operations Subcommittee voted 12-1 in favor of the bill. Rep. Frank Artiles, R-Miami, said the measure is aimed at setting limits to scratch-off games that he contends are the most popular in the state’s poorest neighborhoods. Tickets now cost as much as $25 each.
The bill (HB 607) would limit the Lottery to 20 active scratch-off games at a time. The department currently lists 79 scratch-off games on its website, including 14 that cost more than $5.
“All I want to do is rein them in. What we have here is an abuse of the people who need the most help,” Artiles said. “We are the government and we are the ones that are abusing the system.”
He found no vocal disagreement among committee members, including two who cited their own fathers as example of people who are hurt by scratch-off games.
By Peter Schorsch, SaintPetersBlog.com, SouthFloridaReporter.com, Jan. 15, 2016
