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State lottery to join Mega Millions game

Thursday, June 16, 2005 | 9:48 a.m.

SACRAMENTO -- The California Lottery said Wednesday that it still plans to join the 11-state Mega Millions lotto game despite an opinion from the Legislature's attorney that says the move could violate the 1984 law authorizing the lottery.

Acting lottery director Chon Gutierrez said lottery officials cleared the decision with the state attorney general's office.

"The lottery has worked closely with the state attorney general for two years to ensure Mega Millions is in accordance with the California Lottery Act's mandated standards and law," Gutierrez said. "The lottery has done everything right. We have been very deliberate and cautious every step of the way."

The legislative counsel's office said Tuesday in a 12-page opinion that joining the massive Mega Millions game could violate the voter-approved law, which specified all lottery games played in California should be run by the state, the Oakland Tribune reported.

The legal opinion by Legislative Counsel Diane Boyer-Vine is not binding. But if the state joins the Atlanta-based Mega Millions game, it could invite lawsuits from other gambling interests, including Indian tribes with casinos.

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