Jackson Jambalaya

Wow, that's great news! Wait a minute...where did that $7.6M come from? Oh, snap. A lot of people have made very poor financial decisions.

That's about $7.6M worth of ignorance right there.

We should at least have a sense of humor about this and call it the idiot's fund.

All of it going to Public School improvement no doubt!!

So now Mississippi has a state-owned casino. It basically is luring people to buy these tickets and take a spin at the wheel, knowing that 99% will never cash in. If there ever is an immoral action of state government, this is it.

@1:26PM

Lighten up, Francis. Some of us can spend $20 once a month. That about the price of admission to a theater right? No worse than going to the theaters to see what trash Disney has shat out.

A voluntary tax that at least provides the potential for a return for a few lucky taxpayers. With the old system, all we get in return is a shitty highway system, poor healthcare, and a fucked up prison system.

If you want to see what a great economic growth tool this is, just look at the negative impact in Greenville and Natchez after opening casinos. Vicksburg is a little different and harder to evaluate due to luckily having a diverse working environment.

@1:56

Agreed. I'm confused on how this is a bad thing for the state.

When I win, I'm going to buy this blog and end the censorship of comments. Thats right, I will make Jackson Jambalaya free and uncensored!

I'd much rather an improvement fund be derived from a "voluntary tax" that allows buyers to make their own choices than a mandatory tax on those who earn a living or own assets.

The argument that the poor will just make bad choices is irrelevant. Typically, they aren't making great financial choices, directly (spending) or indirectly (education), in the first place. Not trying to be cruel... just stating facts.

Wow, that's great news! Wait a minute...where did that $7.6M come from? Oh, snap. A lot of people have made very poor financial decisions.

That's about $7.6M worth of ignorance right there.

No, genius!? That's money that has remained in Mississippi instead of going across the state line to lotteries in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee! That money was always here, we were just losing it to the neighboring states, it only took our legislators 20 years to finally figure that out!

Mississippi, where people are too damn smart for their own f*cking good!? SMH

I hope that none of the nay sayers and critics ever drive on one of the newly paved roads paid for with money generated by this. My bet is they will and not denounce it as the devil's tar and continue to tell people how bad it is.

MJJGA

2:57 - I will grant you that some of that money is staying here, but to make the assumption that all that money had been going out of state is ridiculous. There are thousands and thousands of people right here in this state who have been purchasing lottery tickets that never bought them before - Louisiana or anywhere else.

7.6M will pave what, 1 mile of roads?

I'm amazed at the ignorance of these comments. For the poorest state in the US to generate $7.6M in lottery revenue, then I don't want to hear about how the essentials are too expensive, such as providing for your family, paying municipal taxes, tipping your waiter an adequate amount, and so forth. That is $7.6M of pure selfishness and ignorance.

AND, I love it how people think that simply because money goes in, that the state will properly and efficiently use it! Now that's a good one.

@3:40
Buying a $2 scratcher twice a week when I fill up my gas tank isn't going to put my family in the poor house. Pack-a-day cigarette smokers waste far more plus kill themselves.

" Wow, that's great news! Wait a minute...where did that $7.6M come from? Oh, snap. A lot of people have made very poor financial decisions.

That's about $7.6M worth of ignorance right there. "


Well 1:26, ponder these facts for just a moment:

For the most part, I doubt the majority of SNAP recipients were ever making informed investment decisions from the start.

At least our state tax money is (somewhat) being recirculated back into state coffers. Prior to the lottery, a lot ( SNAP claimant's) disposable income was going to out of state corporations that peddle such products as menthol cigarettes and malt liquor. And before anyone screams racism, I've stood in line behind many white people buying the same products. ( And being from a small town, I knew they were SNAP recipients).

We spend more tax dollars in "supplements" to many of these folk, that have never had any reason to work or contribute to society.

At least with this model, MDOT can get some of the funds back . . . and start filling a few more potholes.

Hopefully, the power ball game will bring back even more welfare money into the State Treasury.

The same applies to casinos.

I'd rather see Mississippi welfare money reinvested in our lottery than being channeled to Moe Greene and Fredo Corleone.

That money could repair 5-10 potholes in Jacktown, depending on how many palms need to be greased, rice bowls need to be filled, and trips to Parisian conventions.

Loosen your neckties gents, if you think its horrible then dont play! I like how "evil" and "enticing" the lottery is made out to be, it is just a fun game that no one has every lost their life savings playing. Ill play for entertainment and hopefully fix a road or two, the naysayers can just send your righteous-ass checks to MDOT.

If MDOT has their say so with this $7.6 million it would all go to pay raises for their staff and not pave one square inch of highway.

$7.6 million will construct one Tater Trails street.

@4:35 PM
MDOT employees literally give their lives cutting trees from the highways during storms so ambulances can reach injured tornado victims. They also work 24/7 during ice storms salting the roads and bridges. MDOT Law Enforcement is on the front lines fighting human trafficking and drug smuggling.

"Buying a $2 scratcher twice a week when I fill up my gas tank isn't going to put my family in the poor house. Pack-a-day cigarette smokers waste far more plus kill themselves."

Hey Pal, I got news for you. Us "Smokers" and other regular folks that don't give our money away to the State in the hopes of striking it rich before the lights get cut off are getting a bit tired of waiting in line at the convenience store for something that used to be convenient but no longer is because you are getting your scratch off fix. In fact I gave up a near 40 year smoking habit because I needed to and I'm tired of the inconvenience. Thanks Pal!

rednecks dont have IRA's...................they play the lottery instead.

Great! This solve all the state’s financial problems. Just like alcohol and casinos did! LOL!

They also work 24/7 during ice storms salting the roads and bridges.

How many ice storms would that be on average (annually)?

Perfect timing to rebuild max security prison

i Have friends who bought season tickets for State and OleMiss football games. No one lectured them about being financially irresponsible.

9:56 PM, perhaps if State or Ole Miss advertised yuuuge winnings if you went to a ball game. And those lucky people live right here in this state, and you could be one of them, too! Just buy a ticket. It's that easy. Meanwhile, the game is rigged. You'll never win anything.

That's the difference. It is immoral for the state to prey upon those who are financially illiterate.

@5:27 PM
Why do you think packs of cigs are so expensive? Half of the price is tax. You're not as clever as you think.

@9:53 AM
If you want morality go to a church. I have some sinning to do.

How much money do you think taxpayers would make if the state got into the porn business?

"@5:27 PM
Why do you think packs of cigs are so expensive? Half of the price is tax. You're not as clever as you think."

In the State of Mississippi the Tax on a pack of 20 cigarettes is 68 cents, or $0.68. There are 39 States with a higher tax on cigarettes, and 10 with a lower tax. We rank #40. But nice try Pal!

The ultimate price for smoking has nothing to do with the monetary cost. Smoking is for losers, who drive up the cost of health insurance for those of us who take our health seriously by not smoking.

Want even mo money? Legalize MJ