Another proud lottery moment

Another proud moment in the history of the North Carolina Exploitation Lottery this week as the Lottery Commission approved selling lottery tickets at check-cashing outlets in the state owned by Ace Cash Express. Mark Binker at the News and Record has the details.

Ace Cash Express is the fine, upstanding company that the state had to sue to stop it from offering payday loans. 

The Ace stores now feature advance tax refunds, pre-paid debit cards, and take utility payments in addition to their check-cashing services. And now they have  North Carolina lottery tickets. At least the lottery is in the right company.

Lottery Director Tom Shaheen says some check-cashing outfits already sell tickets and told Binker that his hands are tied.

“Anybody in North Carolina who runs a business and can pass a background check is eligible. We cannot turn anybody down for any reason other than they failed a background check or they’re trying to be in business selling lottery tickets only…Other than that we have no choice who sells.”

Shaheen could ask for a choice if he was troubled by the arrangement. He could request that the General Assembly prohibit the sale of tickets at places like check-cashing strores that already prey on the poor, though that would make it harder for the lottery to target the people that are most likely to play and can least afford to. 

And it’s all about selling tickets remember.  Why stop at check-cashing stores? Why not sell lottery tickets at departments of social services or unemployment offices? Jobs may be tough to find, but let’s make it easier for people who are desperate to throw their money away.

How about the billing office at the hospital, where people with no insurance go to talk about how to pay for the care they couldn’t afford?

Maybe soup kitchens and homeless shelters. Whatever money the folks could scrape together could go to their infinitestimal chance of striking it rich or maybe winning a Harley Davidson Fat Bob motorcyle, the latest promotional prize offered by those champs over there at the lottery office.

How do they sleep at night?