Even after the Vermont House voted to ban the practice of lottery games in bars, a few places have managed to offer the games to patrons who have the itch to play. Shooters Saloon in St. Albans brought in its first Touch Play lottery machine back in November to the delight of many.
Players have been able to try their luck at video gambling games such as King’s Gold and Bank Busters, or if they so choose, buy a regular lottery ticket such as Powerball or Megabucks. Greg Smith, a Vermont Lottery executive, said the 25 establishments offering the machines have brought in roughly $1,000 per week at each location, but refused to give the amount those machines have brought to state coffers.
The state’s goal for these machines is to send at least $1 million of the revenue to the state’s general fund, which would finance the Vermont Veterans’ Home in Bennington. For some time now the home has been on the hunt for funding.
Others are against the expansion, such as House Speaker Shap Smith, who bluntly said, “I’m totally against it, 110 percent.” His reasoning lies in the fact that revenue from these machines will mark the first time since 1998 that lottery money would go towards something other than education. Smith is confident the state will find another source of revenue to fund the home.
The lottery itself in Vermont is projected to bring in $22.9 million over the next fiscal year. Some worry that the money used in bars for lottery tickets and games would take away potential money from the education fund. While it is recognized there may be some overlap, 75% of lottery sales at convenience stores actually come in the form of scratch off tickets, something the bars do not offer.
