Some Idaho legislators are concerned that Idaho State Lottery officials want potential vendors to provide information about offering games that currently are banned—including Keno, simulated racing and fantasy sports–when bidding on 10-year contract. Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill said, “They’re asking a provider to talk about the possibility of providing services that the Idaho legislature has made very clear are illegal, and the Idaho Attorney General has made very clear are unconstitutional. I’m trying to be open minded about this, but I just can’t buy it.”
The state lottery commission could choose a new provider as early as November. The lucrative 10-year contract includes two optional 5-year extensions.
Idaho State Lottery Director Jeff Anderson said the lottery has no plans to offer any games that currently are not allowed. He explained commissioners want to know what vendors are providing in other states, but the information will not be included as they evaluate bids as part of the scoring process. “It’s a very rapidly evolving industry. We’re certainly not looking to authorize Keno, but it’s insightful to know what their capabilities are across all jurisdictions where they operate,” Anderson said.
He added the lottery does not intend to ask the legislature to allow any currently prohibited games, for now. “Eight years from now we’ll have a different governor and a different legislature and maybe a different budget and a different economy. We’re not asking, ‘Hey, help us set up a Keno system,’ we’re just saying, ‘Can you do it?'”
Max Pond, a spokesman for Governor C. L. “Butch” Otter said the governor had no comment about the lottery seeking information about currently illegal games. Otter appoints the members of the lottery commission.
In 2013, Idaho lawmakers legalized instant racing terminals as a way to support the state’s horseracing industry. However, in 2015, legislators voted to ban the machines, determining they resembled slot machines. Otter vetoed the ban but missed wanted the instant racing terminals reinstated with tighter regulations, but the 2016 legislature did not act on his request.
A spokeswoman for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, which operates a casino in northern Idaho and opposes the instant racing terminals, said the tribe had no comment.
