Legislators back doubling NC Lottery ad spend cap

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — The General Assembly appears poised to consider again a proposal doubling how much money the North Carolina State Education Lottery can spend on advertising annually.

A lottery oversight committee recommended Thursday legislation that in part would allow the lottery to spend 2 percent of total annual revenues on ad expenses. It’s now 1 percent.

Lottery Executive Director Alice Garland says the additional advertising could ultimately generate $56 million in profits annually for education. The committee report recommends that most new proceeds go to targeted teacher raises.

Either the House or Senate has sought such a similar advertising increase since 2014. But the House has wanted it combined with additional lottery restrictions, many of which are not contained in Thursday’s proposal.

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