NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Lottery celebrated its one-year anniversary Thursday with revenues of more than $863 million, more than enough to award college scholarships to every qualified student.
Roughly $461 million was paid to lottery winners and more than $246 million went to fund the scholarships and other education initiatives.
As the lottery heads into its second year, debate is gearing up over how to spend some of that education money because the amount needed for college scholarships was actually less than expected.
"This first year is something all Tennesseans can be excited about. Not only have we raised over $246 million in new dollars for education, but every student who qualified has received a scholarship or grant," said lottery president Rebecca Paul.
Officials from the Tennessee Student Assistance Corp. said that more than 36,000 students received assistance out of the $174 million in lottery funds paid out. However, the program was tens of thousands below its original distribution goal and had nearly $100 million in unused funding.
This year the lottery is expecting to make even more money by launching a fourth computerized game by late spring and a "Quick Pick" option for the Cash 3 online game. Commercials for games will run in upcoming months with the legendary slow-groove singer Isaac Hayes of Memphis.
"Our goal is to give students full tuition without a debt," said state Sen. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, who was the main proponent for the lottery's startup. "I don't think it will be easy, because I think there will be effort to take some of the money and use it for other personal agendas."
State Rep. Chris Newton, R-Benton, said there will be revisions made to the scholarship program this legislative session that would increase scholarship award amounts.
"I know that Sen. Cohen and I both count on (other legislators) to listen and have an open mind, and let's do the right thing to pull for these scholarships for the young people in this state," said Newton, co-sponsor of the lottery legislation.
The Rev. Skip Armistead, former chairman of the Religious Leaders for a Gambling-Free Tennessee, said the lottery will prove to be bad for the state in the long run and that it's too early to determine if there's a surplus of dollars to increase scholarships.
"The lottery is so deceiving because people have a hard time seeing that we don't have excess," he said. "Three years from now we're going to have three times the students getting scholarships. So while we have excess money now doesn't mean will have that excess later."
Although some still argue whether the lottery has been beneficial for the state, Angela Hammock, one of the lottery's largest awards recipients, said it definitely has improved her way of life.
The McMinn County convenience store clerk won the "Win for Life" game back in December, which awards her $1,000 a week for the rest of her life. If she dies before collecting $1 million, the remainder will be paid to her estate.
"I know that there's people who have different views on gambling, but look at what the money has done for me and what I can do with the money," she said. "It has given me comfort when I didn't have comfort before."
Hammond had only been working at the store for four months when she won. Since then, she has continued to work and is saving money for her 6-year old daughter.
"If you play responsibly, it's great," she said. "It's still isn't something that's believable, but it does happen for everyday people that have to punch a clock."
