Committees in both the House and Senate approved bills
In Minnesota, both the House and Senate recently approved bills to stop the state lottery from selling tickets via ATMs, convenience stores and online. Last year, at the end of the session with no chance for an override, Governor Mark Dayton vetoed similar measures that were passed by wide bipartisan majorities. “If we’re going to have a lottery, why wouldn’t we want it to be as successful as possible so it would generate as much money as possible for the environmental trust fund, as well as for general operating purposes?” Dayton said in defense of the lottery’s wider availability. The state lottery has generated $2.4 billion for the state since the first tickets were sold in 1990.
Some lawmakers believe the lottery began the new payment platforms without proper legislative approval. “If there’s ever been an example where the legislature ought to assert itself and exert legislative oversight, it’s right here,” said state Senator Dave Thompson.
But State Lottery Executive Director Ed Van Petten assured lawmakers that he and his staff had no intention “usurp the authority of the legislature.” He said he would provide more transparency for lawmakers, and also offered compromises that have been rejected. For example, Van Petten said the online sales platforms include age and location verification and limit players to $50 in tickets per week.
But lawmakers have been more receptive to the anti-gambling organizations Joint Religious Legislative Coalition and Citizens Against Gambling Expansion. Members of those groups have testified that poor people are most impacted by the lottery.
Dayton has his suspicions about the legislators versus lottery battle. “Given the political power that’s lined up behind this bill relative to what the expressed need for it is, something doesn’t connect,” he said. He has not indicated if he would veto the legislation again.
