Lottery defends controversial ads

After attacks from the Boston Globe claiming the commonwealth's newest wave of lottery advertisements goes too far, a Massachusetts State Lottery spokeswoman argued their message that "you can't lose" is fair.

Mass Lottery has recently begun an advertising campaign to promote the tax benefits of a state-run lottery. Those ads, however, have come under fire over the weekend when the Globe's editorial board cited television ads for going too far to promote the idea that everyone, players and non-players, benefits from the lottery equally.

''Did you know that when you play the lottery, you can't lose?" says one of the ads.

''Hey, congratulations, you won the Lottery," states another.

Critics argue these positive slogans mislead viewers by ignoring the addictive nature of the game.

Margot Cahoon, spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling, said she agrees that the advertisements may include several "overgeneralizations."

"Most people can gamble as a recreational activity, but clearly everyone does not win," Cahoon said.

She also added that 6 percent of people living in Massachusetts have a gambling problem. While there is no direct link between gambling addiction and other addictions, she said, 50 percent of those with gambling problems also have been found to have alcohol dependency.

A Mass Lottery representative, however, said she sees nothing wrong with the new advertisements and claims they only serve to highlight the truth in the benefits of a lottery in the state of Massachusetts.

Mass Lottery's spokeswoman Beth Bresnaham said $912 million was paid by the lottery last year to Massachusetts, with Boston receiving $58.6 million. Those funds are used at the city's discretion and often go to such public services as hiring new teachers, paying for new fire trucks or school repairs and construction, she said.

The Globe asserted that the advertisements should not describe playing the lottery as a "win-win situation." The opinion called on state legislators to put a stop to the "deceptive advertising."

The rise in return could be explained by the doubling of the advertising budget given by the state to the lottery last year. In 2003, the lottery was given $5 million for its advertising budget, according to Mass Lottery's website. The state, however, approved a significant increase in the budget to $10 million in 2004.