A bill to be heard Wednesday by a Senate subcommittee would require a warning label on all Tennessee Lottery advertisements. If passed, the advertisements would be required to include the line: “Warning: You will probably lose money playing the lottery.”
Tennessee would be the first state to pass a bill of this kind. The bill’s sponsor, Jim Summerville of Dickson, says his goal is to make consumers more aware of their chances of winnings. The warning would have to be on all billboards advertising the lottery and be announced at the end of television and radio ads.
Details
Advertising - As introduced, makes the failure to place a certain warning on all advertisements for selling lottery tickets a violation of the Consumer Protection Act. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 51 and Title 47, Chapter 18.
Bill Summary
This bill requires that all advertisements for selling lottery tickets must include a warning that "You will probably lose money playing the lottery." The full text of this bill specifies the manner and form of the warning that will be required for different types of advertising media (print, billboards, Internet, etc.). A violation of this bill's warning statement requirement will subject the violator to the civil remedies that are available under the Consumer Protection Act.
Under present law, the civil remedies that are available under the Consumer Protection Act are actual damages or, in the case of willful or knowing violations, treble damages, injunctive relief and reasonable attorney's fees and costs.
