Greenville resident Betty Bracket was leaning over the counter of the Double Quick on Broadway Street scratching the Mississippi Lottery ticket she’d just purchased.
She’d purchased a good handful and so had many other people.
Three of the plastic dispensers of $1 scratch-off tickets were empty as store manager Artiska McCollugh said the store had just sold all those tickets and she was soon to refill the stock.
In just five minutes Monday afternoon, more than 15 tickets were sold of varying price ranges.
People throughout Mississippi got into the scratch-off fever Monday as lottery tickets went on sale for the first time in the state.
For decades, Mississippi was one of only six states without a lottery. There was strong opposition from politically powerful churches. People often drove to neighboring states, such as Louisiana or Arkansas, to buy tickets there.
Democratic state Rep. Alyce Clarke, of Jackson, has been pushing for years to bring a lottery to Mississippi. She bought a ceremonial first ticket at a RaceWay store and gas station in south Jackson.
“It feels great. Finally, it becomes a reality. And it just goes to show you what happens if you don’t give up,” Clarke said. “Sometimes you have to try and try and try again.”
The state had resisted a lottery for years until lawmakers in 2018 authorized a lottery as a way to finance road maintenance and infrastructure needs. At the time, the state had been forced to close hundreds of unsafe bridges.
For the first 10 years, the first $80 million a year from lottery revenue will go to infrastructure needs. After the $80 million benchmark is hit, the rest goes to education. After the 10-year period is over, the first $80 million will go to the state’s general fund with the remainder continuing to go toward education.
Clarke had been pushing for all the money to go to education. She said she was disappointed with the way the money was apportioned but that the roads and bridges also needed investment.
Right now, people can play four different types of games, and the Mississippi Lottery Corporation plans to introduce new games in the coming weeks. The lottery started Monday with only scratch-off tickets. On Jan. 30, tickets for both Mega Millions and Powerball will go on sale. Winners can remain anonymous.
In Washington County, according the Mississippi Lottery website, there are 19 locations selling lottery tickets.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
