Editorial: Will sports gambling revenues help education? Don’t bet on it – WRAL.com

CBC Editorial: Friday, Aug. 13, 2021; Editorial #8693The following is the opinion of Capitol Broadcasting Company.

It is more a question of when, not if, the North Carolina General Assembly opens the entire state to legalized sports wagering beyond casinos operated by Native American tribes. Were fine with that.

Legislation in the state Senate was introduced four months ago and remained dormant. Suddenly theres been a burst of action by the three committees assigned to review it. In just four legislative workdays since last week the bill was approved by the Senate Finance, Judiciary and Commerce committees. It now awaits a vote by the full Senate.

But it is far from ready for primetime when it comes to where the revenues will be directed. It would be wise for the House of Representatives, after it likely passes the Senate, to give it much-needed PUBLIC scrutiny.

State revenue estimates have varied wildly from as much as $360 million to as little as $8 million. We doubt legislators would be going to this effort for a mere $8 million loose walking around change to folks who do their budget calculations in the billions.

In 2005, when the state took its leap into gambling with the creation of the state lottery, it also made an important statement that money raised from gambling would be dedicated to education the most critical investment in North Carolinas future. Even more significantly, it would be dedicated to funding those things beyond the basic obligations of operating public schools. Gambling profits would be used to reduce class size, fund college scholarships, expand prekindergarten, serve more students with special needs, support neglected areas such as school nurses, psychologists, counselors and more.

Back 16 years ago Senate Leader Phil Berger was among the most vocal in opposing lottery gambling. He warned the money, instead of going to enhance and expand education, would be quickly diverted into basic operational spending. He was right. But he and the many Republicans who, mostly for what was obviously partisan reasons, issued warnings are the most responsible for fulfilling the prediction.

Today more than half -- $407.3 million worth of the lotterys profits are being spent on routine day-to-day school operations including busing kids to school (see chart below). That is money that DOES NOT go to help more kids get into Pre-K classes, provide more funds for much-needed school construction or other school and student needs.

Education appears only twice in this latest gambling bill and only in reference to athletic events that may, or may not, be eligible for wagers. The same is true for school.

So where will the money mostly the 8% tax on the revenues of the sports wagering operator -- go? To support and create more events including those people can bet on.

The bill creates the North Carolina Major Events, Games and Attractions Fund to foster job creation and investment in the economy of this State. The money in the fund would be doled out to attract or retain a major annual event in the state.

The neglect of North Carolinas education is a judicially documented fact. The determination to use state gambling revenues to support and enhance public education was clearly established with the creation of the states Education lottery. That focus should remain with any new gambling revenues.

This legislation should not be rushed through or buried amid the mountains of technical language in a massive budget bill.

The House should review it in detail, get an informed notion of what revenues the state might collect and make sure those funds are directed to their highest and best use support for education as intended when the state got into the gambling business.

Capitol Broadcasting Company's Opinion Section seeks a broad range of comments and letters to the editor. Our Comments beside each opinion column offer the opportunity to engage in a dialogue about this article.

In addition, we invite you to write a letter to the editor about this or any other opinion articles. Here are some tips on submissions >> SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Continued here:

Editorial: Will sports gambling revenues help education? Don't bet on it - WRAL.com