Delaware legislation eliminates computerized lottery drawings

Feb 15, 2005, 1:18 pm (19 comments)

Delaware Lottery

Bold action to restore credibility to Delaware lottery drawings

Two key Delaware lawmakers have finished drafting a bill, which if enacted, will eliminate computerized lottery drawings in Delaware, and force the state lottery to conduct live drawings on TV and over the Internet.

House Majority Leader Wayne A. Smith, R-Clair Manor, and Sen. Nancy W. Cook, D-Kenton, form the bipartisan sponsorship for this landmark piece of legislation.

The bill directs the Delaware Lottery Office to hold live lottery drawings using a mechanical numbered-ball system, with an outside auditor present.  This new drawing process would eliminate the present computer-generated number system, in which players have no capacity to view the selection of numbers.

Also included in the bill is an edict that each drawing must be live-streamed over the Internet on the Delaware Lottery's Web page, and that every television broadcast company which receives State funding must televise the drawing via live broadcast, at no cost to the State.

The bill amends §4805(a)(4), Title 29 of the Delaware Code, replacing paragraph (4) in its entirety with the following text.  (This section describes the power and duties of the Director of the State Lottery, so this is the fourth duty of the Director.)



....(4) Manner of selecting the winning tickets; however, the rules or regulations must contain the following provisions:



(i) Selection of the winning numbers must be by live drawing on a live webcast through the State Lottery Office's web page;

(ii) Drawings must use a mechanical, numbered ball system;

(iii) An outside auditor must attend every live drawing; and

(iv) Every broadcast company which receives State funding must televise the drawing via a live broadcast, at no cost to the State.


Hearings on the bill will be held in Committee when the Delaware Legislators are back in session between March 15 and June 30.

Since intentions of this bill were announced by Rep. Smith and Sen. Cook in January, Indiana has also joined the fray with a similar bill that would ban computerized lottery drawings in Indiana.

Editor: Lottery Post urges all of our readers to sign the important Petition for True Lottery Drawings to show your support of this important measure.

Lottery Post Staff

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tg636

Now if only they could eliminate computerized voting.

Todd's avatarTodd

This is getting exciting.  If both Delaware and Indiana get their bills passed, it could provide momentum for other states to follow.

Do you see how we can all make a difference?  People will listen when we are unified, and when we explain the problem in clear terms.

Especially at the State level, your legislators will listen to you.  Call them, and let them know how you feel.  They cannot guess, they need you to tell them.  Most of them are very friendly people, and they want to know what you're thinking.  Just pick up the phone and do it.

dvdiva's avatardvdiva

It's nice that Delaware can listen. As for computerized voting Washington state doesn't have computerized voting and look how good our elections turned out. The good news is that many of our voters are registered in Florida and Ohio (where they also vote).

Todd's avatarTodd

Let's not get off on a tangent on this thread with computerized voting, because this is too important to get off track.  Let's stick to computerized lottery drawings, because computerized voting has nothing at all to do with computerized drawings.  They are apples and oranges.

ajaxdog

Is this an article from a Delaware paper. I must have missed it. Delaware news...what there is of it... has stopped following this cuz all of the legislators are covering their backsides because of the raises they voted for for themselves. All the Dems voted for the raise and all the Reps waited till 10 minutes after the final session and stormed in to protest the bill. Everybody is mad at the Dems for voting Minner a $50 thousand raise and a nice raise for themselves. Everybody is mad at the Reps for getting a raise and being able to say they stood against it but were tardy. I doubt this drawing thing will go anywhere. Too bad, too. Cook has strong ties to the Gov so she'll back off if the Gov wants her to. Who know whether Smith can keep this going during all this fracus. This is nothing new to Delaware politics. The computer has been in place here way to long. Now they'll just argue about letting murderers and rapists out of prison.

Todd's avatarTodd

ajaxdog,

No, this is not from a Delaware newspaper.  I wrote it myself, and researched the topic myself.  I have been in contact with Rep. Smith's office, and they have been just great in working with me.

As far as I know, there is no other media source reporting on this.

ajaxdog

We'll see. I don't mean to be a pessimist but this topic has been off and on in Delaware since Lotto went to randomizers sometime in the mid to late 90s. I do know people are happy to see the old Lotto go. Marylands Lotto needs to go for the same reason. Low play = slow jackpots. Instant games seem to be hot these days around here becasue of high payouts.  Delaware Park slots are hot right now too. Slots probably hurt all lottery games in this state.

Todd's avatarTodd

We'll see what?  I'm not sure what you're answering - I had just mentioned that it was me who wrote and researched the story.

GoArmy's avatarGoArmy

This is absolutely fantastic!! Maybe it will keep Illinois and other states from becoming computerized.........and done in a badly lit room............in someone's basement..............seven times but only the third draw counts.

This really is great news. Also,

"House Majority Leader Wayne A. Smith, R-Clair Manor, and Sen. Nancy W. Cook, D-Kenton, form the bipartisan sponsorship for this landmark piece of legislation."

Maybe these people should be remembered.

JimmySand9

Like I said way back, there are only two things that should never be fully automated. That's airplanes, and lotto drawings. If either the IN or DE bill passes, it should set a huge precedent.

LOTTOMIKE's avatarLOTTOMIKE

i hope this and indiana passes,we are at a real critical juncture.....

fja's avatarfja

Hey I'm 2 and 0 in voting..........nice going!!

kbcherokee's avatarkbcherokee

Ga-do-a-na-du-ne ? (What are they doing?)


Chief

ajaxdog

Todd, when I say we'll see I mean we'll see if this legislation holds together. If you'd been watching Delaware politics as long as I have you would know exactly what I mean. My Rep. Wally Caulk just quit the Republican party in disgust over the antics over the raises. I imagine he's going to be a bit distracted but I'll write him an email. See if you can get Smith to put this on his Website http://www.repwaynesmith.com/

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