Lottery fails in Wyoming

Feb 3, 2011, 8:10 am (20 comments)

Wyoming Lottery

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — For the third time in six years, state lawmakers have killed a proposal to establish a lottery in Wyoming.

By a 33-27 vote, the Wyoming House defeated legislation that would have created a quasi-public corporation to either run a Wyoming-only lottery or join a multistate lottery system.

Wyoming remains one of seven states not to have a state lottery.

Proponents of the legislation, House Bill 186, said many Wyoming residents have asked for a state lottery. A lottery would also help Wyoming businesses, legislative supporters said, both because it would lure out-of-state residents and because it would keep Wyomingites from purchasing lottery tickets — and more — in neighboring states.

"When they go there, they take their dollars and their entertainment plans — they spend the night, they eat dinner, they shop for groceries," said state Rep. Sue Wallis, R-Recluse. "They do all of those things outside of our state, and then buy a lottery ticket and then come back to Wyoming."

But opponents said a Wyoming lottery would disproportionately take money from low-income people and questioned whether a lottery system would take in as much revenue as supporters claimed.

"The people that can't afford it are the ones that are most enticed to do it," said Rep. Matt Teeters, R-Lingle. "And they're going to spend money that they should have been spending to feed their families."

"If you want to gamble," Teeters said, "you ought to try joining agriculture for a little while."

Similar lottery proposals were also voted down by Wyoming legislators in 2009 and 2007.

Like the Georgia lottery, which the legislation was based on, no state general money would have been allowed to be spent on the lottery program. Scratch-off and instant-win tickets, along with video lottery, wouldn't have been allowed under the bill.

Mike Moser, executive director of the Wyoming State Liquor Association, estimated that a Wyoming lottery would raise $20 million to $40 million each year, with $8 million to $10 million going to the state's general fund after expenses and paying out prize money.

But opponents of a lottery questioned that math and unveiled predictions of their own showing a state lottery would break even, at best.  [Editor: One wonders at how they could keep a straight face while saying that.]

How they voted

Here's how members of the Wyoming House voted Wednesday on House Bill 186, which would have established a lottery in Wyoming.

In favor (27): Berger, Blake, Blikre, Botten, Brown, Byrd, Cannady, Childers, Connolly, Craft, Esquibel, Goggles, Greene, Hunt, Illoway, Lubnau, McOmie, Moniz, Patton, Pederson, Petroff, Shepperson, Steward, Throne, Wallis, Zwonitzer (Dan), Zwonitzer (Dave).

Against (33): Barbuto, Bonner, Brechtel, Buchanan, Burkhart, Campbell, Davison, Edmonds, Eklund, Freeman, Gay, Gingery, Greear, Harshman, Harvey, Jaggi, Kasperik, Kroeker, Krone, Lockhart, Loucks, Madden, McKim, Miller, Nicholas, Peasley, Petersen, Quarberg, Roscoe, Semlek, Stubson, Teeters, Vranish.

Star-Tribune

Comments

sully16's avatarsully16

Sad, I guess they know whats best for the people, ( sarcasm) I wonder if the lawmakers who voted against realize they may soon be out of a job.

I wonder how many of those lawmakers soon to be out of a job will be wishing they had a winning lottery ticket ?

pumpi76

please dont let it go to education but something important the USA needs...those revenues could be the famous pork barrel of the senate also...

can Presnt: Obama do something, i am tired of this...

spaconbe2

Yes, the lottery is a ripp off. I lost all my money and can't win shiit. People work hard for their, and why should they throw it away just like that. There are many people that won the lottery and they don't even deserve to win.

spaconbe2

Life ain't that easy. You gotta work and earn your bread.

THRIFTY's avatarTHRIFTY

Quote: Originally posted by spaconbe2 on Feb 3, 2011

Yes, the lottery is a ripp off. I lost all my money and can't win shiit. People work hard for their, and why should they throw it away just like that. There are many people that won the lottery and they don't even deserve to win.

I completely agreed with you. I have been playing for years even though i know that only a few of millions win prizes.Lotteries were created to separate most individuals from thier money and make a few rich with the pool of players money, not with the house money.I have only seen a few winning a starting jackpot amount during the years that i have played.BUT THE FACT IS THAT I PLAY BECAUSE I WANT TO, NOBODY FORCES ME TO DO SO.IT'S A FREE CHOICE TO PLAY.Take a look at the following out of millions that played nobody won the jackpot or a second prize.None of the 42 states hit a second prize or the jackpot.WOW! Wyoming made a smart choice.They do not want their citizens to be addicted to zero sum games.SAVING IS THE WAY TO GO.SAVE YOUR MONEY.

C0w Pi3

Quote: Originally posted by spaconbe2 on Feb 3, 2011

Yes, the lottery is a ripp off. I lost all my money and can't win shiit. People work hard for their, and why should they throw it away just like that. There are many people that won the lottery and they don't even deserve to win.

Then play poker, or horse racing anything parimutuel.

megamanX's avatarmegamanX

Quote: Originally posted by spaconbe2 on Feb 3, 2011

Yes, the lottery is a ripp off. I lost all my money and can't win shiit. People work hard for their, and why should they throw it away just like that. There are many people that won the lottery and they don't even deserve to win.

It's up to you to set aside how much money you're willing to lose. Call 1 800 GAMBLER if you think you have a gambling problem.

Guru101's avatarGuru101

Sorry Wyoming. Hopefully it will still be pursued.

spaconbe2

Yeah true that. I realized If I was saving my money, by now I would have bought a nice car. Imma save my money now  and play no more than $5 bucks

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by THRIFTY on Feb 3, 2011

I completely agreed with you. I have been playing for years even though i know that only a few of millions win prizes.Lotteries were created to separate most individuals from thier money and make a few rich with the pool of players money, not with the house money.I have only seen a few winning a starting jackpot amount during the years that i have played.BUT THE FACT IS THAT I PLAY BECAUSE I WANT TO, NOBODY FORCES ME TO DO SO.IT'S A FREE CHOICE TO PLAY.Take a look at the following out of millions that played nobody won the jackpot or a second prize.None of the 42 states hit a second prize or the jackpot.WOW! Wyoming made a smart choice.They do not want their citizens to be addicted to zero sum games.SAVING IS THE WAY TO GO.SAVE YOUR MONEY.

I've removed the pasted content from the NY Lottery web site.  Please don't copy and paste big swaths of content from other sites.  Thanks!

pumpi76

Quote: Originally posted by pumpi76 on Feb 3, 2011

please dont let it go to education but something important the USA needs...those revenues could be the famous pork barrel of the senate also...

can Presnt: Obama do something, i am tired of this...

the revenue could go into easing up the pain like a relieve, discount program for senior citizens medications...

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

You don't have to spend a lot of money on the Lottery.

I play about $2 a week.

I have been in line behind people that spend $20 or $30 a day on scratch-offs & daily numbers. It is like anything else in life, you have to exercise self control!

 

Please don't be jealous .......... I won $3 on my Powerball ticket for Wednesday! Sun Smiley

OldSchoolPa's avatarOldSchoolPa

Quote: Originally posted by spaconbe2 on Feb 3, 2011

Yes, the lottery is a ripp off. I lost all my money and can't win shiit. People work hard for their, and why should they throw it away just like that. There are many people that won the lottery and they don't even deserve to win.

Well it is true that the majority of people who play the lottery DO NOT WIN MUCH OF ANYTHING.  But then again, the same is true of most pursuits....working to climb the corporate ladder (very few who start out at the bottom rung end up in the CEO's office), casino and race track betting, etc.  I think most people play the lottery for the DREAM of winning...and for many people, that DREAM of financial freedom is worth spending a few bucks.  You are only ripped off IF you EXPECT to win...and if that is the case, then yes, you would be better off saving your money in a guaranteed certificate of deposit.  Otherwise, as the sayings go...."You can't win if you don't play....Have a ball!" (sources: various jackpot and mini-jackpot winners and the Illinois lottery ad slogan)

ressuccess's avatarressuccess

Todd, that's a great story. I don't know why Wyoming doesn't have their own lotto.

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