Lottery Advertising
Norman Cousins’ article (Opinion, June 23), “The Lure of Lottery; the State as a Shill,” detailing his distaste for misleading lottery advertising, makes sense and should be considered. His comment, “With the repeal of Prohibition, at least government didn’t try to advertise the glories of alcohol or alcoholism,” raises a good point. However, with the end of Prohibition the federal government didn’t go into the alcohol business, whereas with the passage of Proposition 37 California has entered the lottery business.
It appears that the state could advertise to encourage participation in the lottery without using misleading techniques. It is not incumbent upon the state to say that everyone who plays the lottery will win; they could encourage people to play the lottery as Scientific Games encouraged people to vote for the lottery, by reminding them that it helps our state’s education program.
Since Proposition 37 mandates expenditures for advertising, I think Cousins’ should use his energies and influence to persuade the Legislature to pass guidelines for lottery advertising.
LAWRENCE L. RISLEY
Fullerton
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