Nevada Assembly pushing for state lottery

Mar 22, 2007, 1:12 pm (9 comments)

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The Nevada State Assembly voted 29-13 Tuesday to take another shot at a constitutional amendment to allow a state lottery.

The proposed amendment has made it through the Assembly more than once in the past, only to die in the Senate. A lottery is about the only form of gambling prohibited by Nevada's Constitution.

AJR5, sponsored by Harry Mortenson, D-Las Vegas, would dedicate any revenue generated from the lottery to public schools. His dedicates the money to purchases of educational equipment and supplies, including everything from textbooks to computers and art supplies. He said it could generate anywhere from $50 million to $200 million a year.

Minority Leader Garn Mabey, R-Las Vegas, said he opposes the proposed amendment.

"It's a bad idea to promote something that takes a toll on our society," he said.

Mabey said he believes many of those who play the lottery are the working poor.

But Ruben Kihuen, D-Las Vegas, said his information is that two-thirds of those who play the lottery earn between $35,000 and $75,000 a year.

"That's not poor people to me," he said. "Well, I make that much."

James Settelmeyer, R-Minden, also opposed the plan.

"I don't believe in enabling people to do something detrimental to them."

Bernie Anderson, D-Sparks, reminded the Assembly the resolution doesn't create a lottery in Nevada - that it simply asks the voters if they want to allow a lottery in Nevada.

AJR5 was approved on primarily a party line vote. Three Republicans joined the Democrats in supporting the proposed amendment: John Carpenter, of Elko; Pete Goicoechea, of Eureka; and Francis Allen, of Las Vegas. One Democrat voted against it: Mo Denis, of Las Vegas.

AJR5 goes to the Senate for review.

What it means

AJR5, approved Tuesday, by the Assembly would ask voters if they want to allow a lottery in Nevada. The Senate must also pass the resolution before it can be placed on the ballot for consideration.

Nevada Appeal

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MissNYC's avatarMissNYC

I never understood why Nevada of all places had no lottery. Casinos, sure, prostitution, no problem, lotto....no way! What?

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by MissNYC on Mar 22, 2007

I never understood why Nevada of all places had no lottery. Casinos, sure, prostitution, no problem, lotto....no way! What?

It's because the casinos have so much power and influence in Nevada. They stand to lose a lot in gambling revenue if a lottery passes.

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Mar 22, 2007

It's because the casinos have so much power and influence in Nevada. They stand to lose a lot in gambling revenue if a lottery passes.

At least if they have a Lottery in Vegas it would be a "Family" game.  

Wink

johnph77's avatarjohnph77

No state lottery has a payout percentage equal to that of almost any game in a casino. The only thing a Nevada lottery would do is to make gambling easier for, and more accessible to, those residing in the state.

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

John, you make complete sense.  I've often joked that I should take the money I spend on the lottery every year and instead take a trip to Las Vegas.  It would be cheaper! 

However, there's one thing I just thought about.  When you wroteThe only thing a Nevada lottery would do is to make gambling easier for, and more accessible to, those residing in the state."  Were you referring to the fact that most people spend way more than $1 or $10 in a casino?  We have casinos in Florida and also there are gambling boats that sail from Fort Myers beach just down the road from me.  Yet I've never been in a casino since I moved here. The reason is that, when I used to travel, I'd blow way too much in a casino.  I never had a gambling problem, but it's not something a person does for just a minute.  I've never seen someone walk into a casino and play one hand of Blackjack.  So buying a lottery ticket, although the payouts aren't as good, is a lot cheaper than spending a night gambling at the tables. 

Coin Toss's avatarCoin Toss

Quote: Originally posted by johnph77 on Mar 22, 2007

No state lottery has a payout percentage equal to that of almost any game in a casino. The only thing a Nevada lottery would do is to make gambling easier for, and more accessible to, those residing in the state.

Let's see....vido poker machines in grocery stores, pizzerias, etc...

So much so that Clark County had to pass a law that a business that was not a casino could only have so many machines so they would not in fact be a front for a slot business. The Las Vegas Reivew Journal used to have business opportunity ads that read:

For sale: Pizzeria, good location. Vido poker machines pay overhead. 

And a lottery would make gambling easier and more accesible? Hardly.

pumpi76

There are things that exist that I say to myself why do these things exist; they just another way to take money from people...A good example of this is the 1,000 dollar pizza, sold here in the States....What a rip-off...

And if a 1,000 dollar pizza can exist why can the lottery in las Vegas exist....I am sure there are lots of good pizzas that cost less than 30 Bucks....At least the lottery there are millionaires out of it and the money goes to education...

 

 

"Laura Simpson from Great Lakes, Illinois deserves to be rich....."                "She is so rare...."

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

I was driving to work and I heard about that pizza on the radio, Pumpi.  I was watching a program on tv (like one of those "E" or Entertainment News bits) and people are paying celebrities large sums of money to appear at their parties.  One example was that Paris Hilton gets $50,000 for sitting at your bar.  She was advertising herself for $100,000 on New Year's Eve.  Taylor Hicks (American Idol winner) gets $150,000 for a 2 hour attendance at your party.  I assume he performs. 

Some people have way too much money!  I promise everyone on this board if I ever win a large jackpot, I will never pay anyone $100,000 to come to my home! 

NBey6's avatarNBey6

Come on Nevada, join the "Land of the Living!!"

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