An effort by Idaho legislators to end Powerball in the state this August failed and the games will continue to be offered for another year at least.
Helping to save Powerball was an announcement by Lottery Director Jeff Anderson that Australia and the U.K. will not be joining Powerball as negotiations have broken down.
Idaho lawmakers had wanted to disconnect the state from Powerball over a worry that foreign countries might use revenue from the state to try to fund causes they oppose, such as gun control.
Anderson told lawmakers: “Powerball will remain available for Idahoans and others to participate in after August 23.” He added, “That doesn’t mean that we won’t be back next year to try to address this because it’s my understanding that this (adding Australia and Britain) is inevitable. It’s just not happening in 2021.”
