THINK NEW MEXICO IS RIGHT ABOUT THE STATE LOTTERY. WENDY AHLM WITH THE NEW MEXICO LOTTERY SAYS THEY DO HOPE TO SCALE BACK HOW MUCH OF THEIR ANNUAL REVENUE GOES TO THE LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP FUND. RIGHT NOW, IT’S REQUIRED TO BE 30 PERCENT UNDER A 2007 LAW.
AHLM SAYS THE 30 PERCENT REQUIREMENT DOESN’T GIVE THEM FLEXIBILITY ON PRIZE PAY OUTS, AND SHE SAYS NEW MEXICO ONE OF THE LOWEST PRIZE PAY OUTS IN THE U-S.
AHLM SAYS PEOPLE PLAY MORE WHEN PRIZES AND PAY OUTS ARE BIGGER … THUS RAISING REVENUE. SHE SAYS WHILE THEY WOULD SCALE BACK THE PERCENTAGE THAT GOES TO THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, THE THINKING IS IT WOULD STILL BE MORE FUNDING BECAUSE THEY’D TAKE IN MORE REVENUE PER YEAR.
