Pause the Lottery When Families Go Hungry
When families aren’t sure how they’ll afford their next meal, Maryland shouldn’t be encouraging them to gamble. Yet the Maryland Lottery continues to pull in billions every year, mostly from neighborhoods struggling with poverty and high SNAP enrollment. That’s no accident — it’s a stark reflection of economic hardship.
More than one in nine Maryland residents — around 680,000 people — rely on SNAP to put food on the table, averaging just $180 per month. For many, that modest support is the difference between eating and going hungry. When those benefits are delayed or cut, promoting lottery games feels not just tone-deaf, but morally wrong.
Governor Wes Moore has said the state can’t cover federal food assistance gaps with state funds. If Maryland won’t step in to keep families fed, it has an even greater responsibility to stop profiting from their hardship. Continuing to advertise scratch-offs and jackpot games while families face food insecurity sends a painful message: the state can’t help you feed your kids, but it will happily sell you hope.
That’s why I’m calling on Gov. Moore to suspend all Maryland Lottery sales — both retail and online — whenever federal SNAP disbursements are disrupted. This isn’t about punishment; it’s about protecting those most at risk. Even a short pause would show Maryland prioritizes its people over profits, redirecting resources toward essentials like food, rent, heat, and medicine.
The mechanics are simple. An executive order could direct the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency to halt sales when SNAP benefits are delayed. Advertising could pause, and marketing funds could temporarily support emergency food programs. A follow-up report could weigh revenue loss against the social benefit of keeping dollars in local communities when they’re needed most.
Last year, the Maryland Lottery generated roughly $2.7 billion in sales. Prince George’s County alone accounted for nearly a quarter of that total — a county with many residents depending on federal nutrition aid. Ignoring this reality while federal funding hangs in the balance is unacceptable.
This isn’t a partisan issue — it’s a moral one. If the state can pause projects or grants during federal uncertainty, it can certainly pause scratch-offs and Pick 3 games. When families go hungry, Maryland must have the courage to say: the lottery pauses.
Gov. Moore often says his mission is to “leave no one behind.” Right now, that commitment is being tested. Leadership means choosing people over profit — especially when it matters most.