Share
Tweet
Print
E-mail
Share
digg
reddit
Newsvine
Fark
Stumble
TechnoratiLETTER TO THE EDITOR:
State lottery could be just what Nevada needs
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010 | 2:02 a.m.
As a longtime resident of Las Vegas, I have a suggestion that may help our state’s financial situation in two words: state lottery.
People will still play at the casino tables, still play the slots and still visit the sports books. Most of my friends and I do not gamble at all, but we would spend a dollar or two a week on a lottery ticket. We all have that thought, “You never know.”
Discussion: 8 comments so far…
Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy.
Post a comment
Spotlight
-
Tax Credit Savings up to $12,000
American West
American West can unlock the key to your dream home! Bring to any American West community. The amount of the tax credit differs based upon ...
-
$50 Off
TravelForYouToGo.com
Don't let lack of time, or patience prevent you from having & creating a great vacation experience. My travel planning service will help you create ...
-
Free Gift With Loan
Sun Loan Company & Tax Service
Redeem this coupon for a free gift with any loan.
-
Where Vegas escapes Vegas
Springs Preserve
$2 off NV resident adult general admission or $4 off non-resident general admission. Code: C01LVSU1210
-
$1 off Carton of Cigarettes.
Las Vegas Paiute Smoke Shop
*Must be 18 years of age or older. No limit on any one brand carton purchases. Cannot be used to purchase Marlboro, KOOL, Camel, Misty, ...
-
-
Buy 1 Sandwich Get 1 50% Off
Flow Rider Truck
Present this coupon to get 50% off your second sandwich.
Find our weekly schedule at www.flowridertruck.com -
15% off Premium Cigars
Las Vegas Paiute Smoke Shop
Not valid for accessories, mass market or cigarettes purchases. Cannot be combined with any other Las Vegas Paiute offer or discounts. Must be 18 years ...
-
FREE T-shirt with FREE Consultation
Bannerview.com
Get the Official BannerView.com T-Shirt plus outstanding eBusiness advice when you come in for your FREE Consultation!
-
$15 off $55 purchase or $25 off $75 purchase
Barcelona Tapas & Bar
Barcelona Tapas & Bar offers a variety of tapas and specialty cocktails. Mon-Fri 50% off lunch menu. Sun-Mon 50% off tapas 8-10pm, Tues 50% of ...
-
$15 off Zen Magic
Zen Magic at Planet Hollywood
See Japan's First Ladies of Illusion. Receive $15 off admission with this coupon.
-
3 Races For $45, 40% Savings
Pole Position Raceway
At Pole Position Raceway you will kart race at speeds up to 45 mph on a 1/4 mile euro-style course. Race friends & family, or ...
-
Free In Home Design Service
Furniture Market
Free in home design service by one of our professional designers with this coupon.
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Feds probe cause of fatal plane crash on residential street
- Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon brings in $58.9 million
- Legal Internet gambling may help big casino firms, hurt small ones
- Investors take on HOAs, and residents might suffer
- Widening project to bring I-15 lane closures this week
- What about creating jobs in America?
- At the MDA Telethon, one of the stars of the show is someone you never see
- The changing meaning of ‘text’ in the classroom
- Fire causes $50,000 in damage to Henderson home
- Observing Labor Day
Blogs
Elsewhere
Company seeking land site from Sands China (1 Comment)
The Kats Report
With boost from audience and 'his kids,' impassioned Jerry Lewis closes telethon (1 Comment)
At the MDA Telethon, one of the stars of the show is someone you never see
Poignance, laughter as Jerry Lewis preps for telethon (4 Comments)
Elsewhere
Boxer Mayweather apologizes for comments about Pacquiao (5 Comments)
The Kats Report
Robert Schimmel, frequent Las Vegas stand-up performer, dies after car accident in Arizona (9 Comments)
Elsewhere
Boxing promoter's son found dead on mountain (2 Comments)
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
At best the state lottery will only bring in $100 million to the state and that is not the true net.
It will displace gaming that is already occurring and that we are collecting taxes on.
It probably will suppress to a slight degree employment in gaming too for it reduces revenue to support employment.
State lotteries are taxes on dumb people including the dumb poor.
State lotteries have poor payouts back to the gambler. By law, gaming is required to pay back 75% of its intake back to the players. On average it is 85%. Most state lotters pay back less than 50% of the winnings.
The odds are winning a state lottery is much harsher than winning MegaBucks.
So it is poor gambling game when compared to games that we already have.
Like I said it is a tax on dumb people.
It is a shame that poor and low income people will spend 1000's of dollars on state lotteries instead of buying food and clothes and education material for their children.
Yes, many of these people are already playing at casinos but state lotteries tend to encourage more of these people to place bets on playing state lotteries.
It is sad but it is life.
So I am OK with a tax on dumb people even though it probably will not bring in that much revenue to the state.
The dumb are demanding the opportunity to depart from their money. We need to fulfill their wishes.
I have four words:
Not a serious solution
Good on there Rhooster...
You made me grin this morning.
I think it is about time to start cutting expenses instead of raising taxes. But if we have to raise taxes, I also think a small increase in the sales tax is far better then any lottery. Too much chance of corruption and more state employees.
But, our progressive Liberals friends will tell us that the sales tax is a regressive tax.
if there was a lottery in Nevada, they need to place them in the keno lounges of casinos. Not @ 7-11, bars, cathouses, or strip bars. Casinos get a percentage of the winnings, they will kick themselves for not doing it sooner.
I could just see the casinos giving out complimentary drinks to those people playing the state's lottery tickets...
Why in the world would casinos or any other gaming establishment sell lottery tickets?
It is interesting that some people seem to think that if we have a lottery in Nevada that it will decrease the earnings of casinos. How easy is it to forget that California has a lottery, but still the Indian Casinos are doing good business. The same is true in Florida and numerous other states with both lotteries and casino gaming.
At least a lottery ticket is money individuals will spend by choice, rather than a sales tax increase which is not a choice.
Some seem to think that a temporary sales tax increase is the ticket. This is wishfull thinking at its best. When it comes to taxes and additional revenues for the state coffers, nothing is temporary.
The question is,
Should the state government be directly involved in a gambling operation?
I think not. Even though Nevada legalized gambling in 1931, the state of Nevada (or any government, anywhere) should not directly operate a gambling franchise, AKA a lottery
Think of all the state jobs that could be created with a state ran lottery.
Will these be union jobs with the full range of benefits that have helped put Nevada into it's current financial crisis???