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The Florida Lottery and education in the state go hand in hand, with the department contributing more than 28 billion dollars to education trust funds since 1988.  As Matt Galka tells us, lawmakers think they can get that number to up with a bill that would make it easier for you to buy a ticket.

The Florida lottery is coming off a record breaking month.  More than $471 million dollars worth of tickets were sold in October.  $118 million of that goes to a state education trust fund.

A bill that cleared its first committee last week would authorize automated sales of lottery tickets. The sponsor says it’s a good way to increase revenues.

“I think the most familiar terminal you’ll see is at the gas pump,” said Sen. Garrett Richter (R-Naples).

One lawmaker said if the idea was to make money for education, why not open up the sales online.

“If you have a big prize you’ll get a lot of people from out of state,” said Sen. Gwen Margolis (D-Miami).

Margolis’ amendment was shot down under the idea that it might be seen as an expansion of gaming.

The idea for automated sales brings into play the state’s gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe under the Seminole Compact. The Compact prohibits a potential automated lottery terminal from dispensing winnings or revealing winning numbers.

“We’re going to actually take the specific language out of the Seminole contract and put it into this as definition,” said Sen. Richter.

Sen. Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland) is worried that more people will be using their credit cards in hopes of a big pay day.

“I just see it as making it more accessible which I don’t think is profitable. I don’t think we need to make it more accessible. I think responsible people who want to get a lottery ticket here and there need to purchase at the gas pump, I don’t think it’s that big of deal to walk in to the store and purchase it,” she said.

The bill requires that if a person was using a credit card to buy the lottery tickets, 20 dollars in additional items, like gas or groceries, must also be purchased.

The idea for automated lottery terminals comes from a state study where it has been noted for two years in a row that ticket automation could increase revenues.