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Nevadans Gamble on Lottery but Lawmakers Won't

”…Some Nevada lawmakers and at least one casino giant, don't see the harm. What they see are dollar signs.

”The Dry Lakes store gets its name from its barren location, miles from any California town. The outpost, recently purchased by Las Vegas Strip casino giant MGM MIRAGE, is California's leading lottery outlet, with more than $6.2 million in ticket sales in 2000 -- mostly to Nevadans.

”…Because of the obvious demand, some lawmakers took a gamble in the just concluded legislative session that a state lottery could provide sorely needed income for the state's education and senior citizen programs.

”Like so many lottery players, they lost. Again.

”Measures to launch a state lottery have been defeated 14 times since 1975, thanks in part to lobbying by Nevada's gaming industry.

”…The latest plan that would have let Nevada voters decide in 2004 whether to permit a state lottery died in the Senate Government Affairs Committee, one vote short of reaching the Senate floor.

”…The gambling industry has opposed attempts to allow a state lottery, in part fearing competition for their casinos. The current bill, however, passed the Assembly without any opposition from gaming lobbyists, the most powerful in the Legislature.

”…And while MGM MIRAGE bought the Dry Lakes Lotto Store, it doesn't necessarily mean the Las Vegas-based casino giant is getting heavily into the lottery business, said Alan Feldman, company spokesman.

”The move was meant to give MGM MIRAGE total control of gambling operations near its three casino-hotels that attract freeway travelers along Interstate 15.

”It might be smart marketing, but Thompson thinks that -- for gamblers -- the lottery is a `stupid bet.’ He said lotteries have a 50 percent payback compared with percentages in the high 90s offered by most casino slot machines.

”But that doesn't seem to stop Nevadans from making regular treks over the state line to purchase lottery tickets…”

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