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Wyoming lottery bill clears first hurdle
Wyoming: Wyoming lottery bill clears first hurdle
The bill will go to the House floor for debate
A Wyoming House panel recommended Friday that the state House pass a bill creating a lottery.
The Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Committee voted 7-2 that House Bill 170 pass.
The lottery should generate $11 million a year for the Hathaway Scholarships, according to bill sponsor Rep. Sue Wallis, R-Recluse.
As the money builds up, Wallis hopes some of it could be used for early childhood and preschool programs.
The lottery is also slated to generate money for horse programs.
HB 170 allows video lotteries at horse racing tracks in the state as well as allowing entry tickets to be sold at retail stores.
And the $1 million fee for a race track to take part will generate the seed money for establishing a private, entrepreneurial company that will run the lottery operation.
That private corporation would could bring Wyoming into multi-state games, such as Powerball, as well as develop games exclusive to the state.
There is only one race track -- Wyoming Downs in Evanston.
"One of the concerns that people have is that gambling gets a toehold and it spreads," said Rep. Dave Bonner, R-Powell, referring to the new video lottery and possible new race tracks and expanded gaming options.
But Eric Spector, president and CEO of Wyoming Downs, said, "There are no plans that we know of" for development of other tracks. He said the costs are prohibitive -- between $30 million and $35 million just to build one -- and race tracks are losing money in the current economy.
"We are starting something that we will have to support from now on," said committee member Rep. Kathy Davison, R-Kemmerer. "It's not going to create the wealth that they think."
But member Rep. Cathy Connolly, D-Laramie, said, the lottery is a "good experiment" that can be discontinued if it fails.
With the beneficiaries being education and horses, said committee member Allen Jaggi, "I think it was well-crafted to get the buy-in."
But he added, "The big business just scares the heck out of me."
And he said with the poor economy, it is a bad time to pull dollars from food and other necessities for gambling.
Mike Moser, a lobbyist for Wyoming Entertainment and the Wyoming State Liquor Association, said the lottery is about helping small retail businesses in a difficult economy rather than having those dollars going to Colorado and other states with lotteries.
Jaggi and Davison voted against the bill.
Wyoming Tribune
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12 comments. Last comment 9 months ago by .
New Member  Franklin-n.c United States Member #37601 April 12, 2006 13 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 7, 2009, 6:51 pm - IP Logged |
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Every State BIG or SMALL Should Have A LOTTERY and The Ones That Don't Want it DON'T Have to PLAY, but there The FIRST ONES that WANT to get there KIDS into a scholarship program
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Bondi Junction Australia Member #57721 December 24, 2007 221 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 7, 2009, 11:53 pm - IP Logged |
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It is about free choice, Yes, some people will spend too much on tickets, but not having a lottery will not stop people spend too much, they will simply spend it on something else. At least the funds raised by lotteries benefit the players even if they don't win. Let the people decide!
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Dallas, TX United States Member #60771 April 12, 2008 3017 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 8, 2009, 1:55 am - IP Logged |
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Not sure Wyoming does not yet have lottery. Creating an opportunity to better the state and the lives of winners can have a chance for better change. Also, bringing in some excitment to the state when the jackpot gets high. I think the people approving the bill ought to allow it completely, and don't hold the state back from development. Lottoism: Free pick 3 & Pick 4 predictions.
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Oak Creek WI United States Member #5498 July 3, 2004 21 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 8, 2009, 9:35 am - IP Logged |
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People will go to another state and play the Lottery if it's not in there state. The only ones that can't play are the ones that can't drive to another state to play. But one way or another the will find a way to get lottery tickets. I say let Wyoming get a state lottery and see how it goes let the people decide if they like it or not. Put a time limit on it, to see if it's what the commitee thought it was going to be.
You can't tell people what to do with thier money, if they don't buy a lottery ticket they'll spend it on something else. At least buying a lottery ticket would benifit the state and it's programs. Good Luck
LottoLin
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Panama Member #21312 August 29, 2005 2352 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 8, 2009, 10:21 pm - IP Logged |
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I'll be glad if it went to college scholarships only and the homeless or it may sound crazy but if it went to development in that state, bussiness development that might create jobs (Like bussiness development), just the same way there is big investment from big companies, the same way, you know to jumpstart the economy of that state, that along with the way the economy is going they might need it...
But whatever they put i hope they set a Pick5/30 as a goody like Colorado Cash5 & Pennsylvania Treasure hunt or West Virginia Cash25, you know something that will be a magnet and will attract a lot of players so that they get lots of revenue... "I can make it, I can make it".."I can hit that predator lotto"....in context from movie Predator1
"Keno, is: "the demon who makes trophies of men" you can't see it, and it skins them"..in context from movie "Predator1"
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Panama Member #21312 August 29, 2005 2352 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 8, 2009, 10:50 pm - IP Logged |
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I'll be glad if it went to college scholarships only and the homeless or it may sound crazy but if it went to development in that state, bussiness development that might create jobs (Like bussiness development), just the same way there is big investment from big companies, the same way, you know to jumpstart the economy of that state, that along with the way the economy is going they might need it...
But whatever they put i hope they set a Pick5/30 as a goody like Colorado Cash5 & Pennsylvania Treasure hunt or West Virginia Cash25, you know something that will be a magnet and will attract a lot of players so that they get lots of revenue... specially if those bussiness development reach out internationally...Even though i have to admit this should be reserved to less developed countries/states that are island...don't know if wyoming is one....
and the money that the bussiness development creates can either go to the government or go to the bussiness to let it expand and provide more jobs...I got to laugh at this...Talking about a self-powering city...
i owe this idea to diamondpalace if it wasn't for her i wouldn't have thought of it... "I can make it, I can make it".."I can hit that predator lotto"....in context from movie Predator1
"Keno, is: "the demon who makes trophies of men" you can't see it, and it skins them"..in context from movie "Predator1"
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Bondi Junction Australia Member #57721 December 24, 2007 221 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 8, 2009, 11:06 pm - IP Logged |
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People will go to another state and play the Lottery if it's not in there state. The only ones that can't play are the ones that can't drive to another state to play. But one way or another the will find a way to get lottery tickets. I say let Wyoming get a state lottery and see how it goes let the people decide if they like it or not. Put a time limit on it, to see if it's what the commitee thought it was going to be.
You can't tell people what to do with thier money, if they don't buy a lottery ticket they'll spend it on something else. At least buying a lottery ticket would benifit the state and it's programs. Good Luck
LottoLin You don't have to drive to play a lottery. The Massachusetts lottery has a subscription service open to all over the telephone, you don't have to leave your home to play.
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Panama Member #21312 August 29, 2005 2352 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 9, 2009, 1:00 pm - IP Logged |
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specially if those bussiness development reach out internationally...Even though i have to admit this should be reserved to less developed countries/states that are island...don't know if wyoming is one....
and the money that the bussiness development creates can either go to the government or go to the bussiness to let it expand and provide more jobs...I got to laugh at this...Talking about a self-powering city...
i owe this idea to diamondpalace if it wasn't for her i wouldn't have thought of it... Things that can be created are Condos, Drugstore chains, Hospitals, Restaurants chains, etc, etc, etc, beautifying the state and providiging jobs all with based in Wyoming if they want to expand and generating money for the state of Wyoming...This is an awesome idea... "I can make it, I can make it".."I can hit that predator lotto"....in context from movie Predator1
"Keno, is: "the demon who makes trophies of men" you can't see it, and it skins them"..in context from movie "Predator1"
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Idaho United States Member #56982 November 21, 2007 3187 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 10, 2009, 12:08 am - IP Logged |
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You don't have to drive to play a lottery. The Massachusetts lottery has a subscription service open to all over the telephone, you don't have to leave your home to play. Yeah, I wish more states would offer subscriptions. "No one remembers the person who almost climbed the mountain, only the person who eventually gets to the top."
ThatScaryChick
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Stroudsburg, PA United States Member #1860 July 11, 2003 2597 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 10, 2009, 2:51 am - IP Logged |
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I found it interesting that they plan on giving a contract to a private company to run the lottery, as opposed to running a state-owned scheme.
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Panama Member #21312 August 29, 2005 2352 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 10, 2009, 7:10 pm - IP Logged |
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I got another idea...I think that instead of Spending it in horses they should spend it in the homeless and women/female sports to promote female sports....It sure will look nice...About spending it in bussiness development that's only for certain island less developed countries with small population.... "I can make it, I can make it".."I can hit that predator lotto"....in context from movie Predator1
"Keno, is: "the demon who makes trophies of men" you can't see it, and it skins them"..in context from movie "Predator1"
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Panama Member #21312 August 29, 2005 2352 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 10, 2009, 8:01 pm - IP Logged |
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I got another idea...I think that instead of Spending it in horses they should spend it in the homeless and women/female sports to promote female sports....It sure will look nice...About spending it in bussiness development that's only for certain island less developed countries with small population.... i meant to say it is for certain less developed island countries with small population.... "I can make it, I can make it".."I can hit that predator lotto"....in context from movie Predator1
"Keno, is: "the demon who makes trophies of men" you can't see it, and it skins them"..in context from movie "Predator1"
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