Letter: Lottery best way to solve state’s economic woes

Thursday, Sept. 12, 2002 | 8:56 a.m.

Regarding our state government's economic woes, perhaps it is time to give the citizens of Nevada what many will presumably eagerly accept, and from what the state of Nevada will benefit -- a revenue-generating state lottery.

Although raising taxes on casinos would be less administratively burdensome for the state, it appears likely that casinos would strongly resist a tax increase.

Rather than losing revenue to other states that conduct lotteries, the state of Nevada should attempt to retain that revenue. Furthermore, directly encroaching on the revenue of casinos through a state lottery is a reasonable course of action in the face of expected resistance by casinos to an increase in the taxes levied on them.

Certainly, in Nevada, there cannot be an argument relating to morality in opposition to a state lottery. Due to our gaming climate, no state has ever had more citizens primed and ready to buy a lottery ticket than does Nevada. Although I consider that to be unfortunate, it is the reality of the situation.

Raising casino taxes would be efficient and immediately productive, but if lobbying and other efforts are made to restrain state officials from achieving this, the implementation of a state lottery would likely be the most palatable manner, to all the citizens of Nevada, of beginning to raise the revenue that Nevada desperately needs.

JORDAN BODENSTEIN

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