LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan legislature is considering a proposal that would limit the amount of lottery prize money residents who get welfare, Medicaid or food stamps could win to more than $600, the Lottery Post reports. The bill stipulates that any money over $600 won by such a person would be funneled into the state School Aid Fund, which receives any unclaimed lottery money. State Reps. Tom McMillin, Jim Stamas, David Agema and Pete Lund sponsored the bill. “The lottery is a bad gamble for a lot of people,” said McMillin, who introduced the bill. “Some people play it for recreation. One too many times, I saw people standing in line who appeared to be poor and they were buying tons of lottery tickets.”
Some retailers support the bill. Najib Kakos, owner of Buscemi’s/Beverage Barrel, sells lottery tickets, but said he’s in favor of the bill. “We have family members that own businesses in the Detroit area, primarily in really poor neighborhoods,” he said. “Their lottery sales are unbelievable compared to ours. If you’re barely making it, you shouldn't be gambling. … The money should be used for food and shelter. It doesn't matter if it hurts our sales — it's about doing what's right.”
However, other lottery ticket outlets are against the bill. “If a person got a million-dollar ticket, then they should win a million — or $50,000 or whatever,” said Dennis Zielke, who owns Adair Market. “They should be able to have it.”
The Michigan Lottery expressed concerns about the bill. “There are some questions about the enforcement provisions which we don't really feel are in the bill right now,” said Andi Brancato, director of public relations for the lottery. “So, without any enforcement provisions, it's difficult for us to elaborate on the bill.”
Tennessee nixed a similar proposal. McMillin doesn’t expect any movement on the bill this year.
