Millions of California lottery enthusiasts, anxious to beat the 1-in-135 million odds of winning the upcoming Mega Millions jackpot, may find some of their least-favorite politicians crushing their dreams of wealth.
The chairman of California's Senate Governmental Organization Committee has asked the Legislature's attorneys whether the Lottery Commission has the constitutional authority to join the multistate Mega Millions game later this year.
If the commission's authority is questionable, the matter may be put to a test in the Legislature, lawmakers said Thursday.
"There are more questions than answers," Sen. Dean Florez, D-Bakersfield, said Thursday of the lottery's plans to join the 3-year-old Mega Millions.
In Mega Millions, players pay $1 to pick six numbers from 1 to 52 to match those drawn twice weekly. Bets are currently pooled from the states of New York, Texas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Maryland, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia and Washington.
A Mega Millions jackpot shattered records when it hit $363 million in May 2002, while the competing multistate Powerball's largest jackpot has been $315 million. California's biggest jackpot has been $193 million.
The languishing California Lottery, which voters approved in 1984 to benefit public education, decided last month to link its operation with Mega Millions.
But earlier this month, Florez held an informational hearing on the California Lottery Commission's decision to join Mega Millions. In the wake of that hearing, his aides disclosed Thursday that the senator requested a formal opinion from the Legislative Counsel's Office on whether the lottery-authorizing constitutional amendment allows the commission to make such a unilateral move.
A spokesman for the legal office declined comment, saying the opinion, when completed, will remain confidential. The senator can choose to make it public.
Florez spokeswoman Jennifer Hanson said that if the opinion questions the Lottery Commission's authority, it may lead to legislation.
Former lottery director Chon Gutierrez, tapped by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to oversee the games again, said the Lottery Commission clearly has the authority to make the change and is moving ahead.
"We haven't picked a date yet, but it will be soon," he said.
The state plans to continue its SuperLotto Plus, though sales are expected to decrease with the introduction of the larger Mega Millions. But officials predicted overall lottery sales in California will rise.
Proceeds from the new game would be divided, as is lottery income currently. By law, half of sales must be used for jackpots, schools get 34 percent and up to 16 percent can go to administration.
they are rather off with their facts. of course, it is not pick 6/52, but 5/52+1/another 52. when CA joins, the odds will be bigger than 1-135 million. if you wanna count when it was the big game, than technically they are correct, but that was when it was technically another game.
A spokesman for the legal office declined comment, saying the opinion, when completed, will remain confidential. The senator can choose to make it public.
Now that's the way to run a democracy, keep the legal stuff confidential so the people don't know what the laws are.
I wonder what will happen to the recent MegaMillions changes Texas has adopted if California can't join.
Lot of deception going on here.
I read the minutes of the Texas Lottery Commission meeting on March 11. Maybe I missed it, but there was not mention that the other 10 states had went along with the change to 5/56 1/46 game. I assume they had a secret meeting somewhere.
It was done as if it is a Texas game, when it's not.
Maybe some of the other states couldn't get it passed their legislatures. Now, they can say they have to go along or get out, which, of course, wouldn't happen.
if even one state does not approve the changes, the changes will not take effect. the changes will take effect if and only if all states approve the change.
unfortunately it is not that way with powerball. once the MUSL decides to make changes, they make changes, regardless if the ztates want them or not.
someone please send me some tickets.. looks like our politiitions have found another way to screw the poor (me and my friends) and abuse their POWER (AGAIN) and i need some money.. lol
Quote:Originally posted by madjjrules on March 26, 2005
someone please send me some tickets.. looks like our politiitions have found another way to screw the poor (me and my friends) and abuse their POWER (AGAIN) and i need some money.. lol
playing the lottery is not a good way to try and make money. unless you are incredible at predicting, you will get nowhere. also, it is illegal to mail lottery tickets until after the drawing.
they are rather off with their facts. of course, it is not pick 6/52, but 5/52+1/another 52. when CA joins, the odds will be bigger than 1-135 million. if you wanna count when it was the big game, than technically they are correct, but that was when it was technically another game.
A spokesman for the legal office declined comment, saying the opinion, when completed, will remain confidential. The senator can choose to make it public.
Now that's the way to run a democracy, keep the legal stuff confidential so the people don't know what the laws are.
I wonder what will happen to the recent MegaMillions changes Texas has adopted if California can't join.
Lot of deception going on here.
I read the minutes of the Texas Lottery Commission meeting on March 11. Maybe I missed it, but there was not mention that the other 10 states had went along with the change to 5/56 1/46 game. I assume they had a secret meeting somewhere.
It was done as if it is a Texas game, when it's not.
Maybe some of the other states couldn't get it passed their legislatures. Now, they can say they have to go along or get out, which, of course, wouldn't happen.
Someone needs to send this guy a playslip
if even one state does not approve the changes, the changes will not take effect. the changes will take effect if and only if all states approve the change.
unfortunately it is not that way with powerball. once the MUSL decides to make changes, they make changes, regardless if the ztates want them or not.
It just sounds like more lame politics to me.
Maybe the Democrat senator just wants to raise income tax more instead of selling more lottery tickets.
It's really pathetic what some politicians will do just to get attention.
someone please send me some tickets.. looks like our politiitions have found another way to screw the poor (me and my friends) and abuse their POWER (AGAIN) and i need some money.. lol
playing the lottery is not a good way to try and make money. unless you are incredible at predicting, you will get nowhere. also, it is illegal to mail lottery tickets until after the drawing.
i think we should have a lottery because we need funds for schools and roads repairs.