Utahns wanted lottery, but lawmakers refused to let citizens vote

[barryqwalsh]

Salt Lake City — (KUTV) Over the past few weeks, thousands of Utahns have been driving across borders to get their hands on a Powerball lottery ticket, hoping to become sudden billionaires.

Utah could participate in the Powerball and save them the trip. Years ago Utahns wanted an in-state lottery but failed to get one.



Utahns wanted lottery, but lawmakers refused to let citizens vote

 

[ScienceRocks]

All states should have a lottery as people have every right to play games and possibly win. It is called freedom!

 

[Moonglow]

It's gambling which used to be a sin....until our govt. needed the taxes,, then the sin of vice was lifted...

 

[ScienceRocks]

It's gambling which used to be a sin....until our govt. needed the taxes,, then the sin of vice was lifted...

So because some people have a faith so we all need to be forced to live by their faith??? Yet, these people scream about freedom? lol

 

[barryqwalsh]

According to the Idaho Lottery Commission, the last jackpot winner in the state came in 2005, but since 2010, 22 others have matched at least five numbers, winning $1 million in the process. Ten of those winners have come from the state of Utah.

KJ's Super Stores in Malad, Idaho, estimates that 99% of their powerball sales during this last jackpot were from UT residents. "We kind of built this whole thing around the fact that we are banking on Utah will never have a lottery in that state that's what we are planning on and that's what we are hoping for"


1,000,000 People in favor of a State Lottery in Utah

 

[barryqwalsh]

Don't forget, if you live in Utah, or any other state, you can play a state lottery without leaving your house - while saving on gas!


Megabucks Doubler is a $1 wager and is drawn two times a week. Tickets can be purchased:

Subscriptions Can Be Purchased By Phone - From Anywhere In The United States!

Call 1-800-222-8587 (TKTS)

1 Year Season Ticket = $100
(104 drawings)


Season Tickets | MA State Lottery

 

[barryqwalsh]

Don't forget, if you live in Utah, or any other state, you can play a state lottery without leaving your house - while saving on gas!


Megabucks Doubler is a $1 wager and is drawn two times a week. Tickets can be purchased:

Subscriptions Can Be Purchased By Phone: 1-800-222-8587 (TKTS)

1 Year Season Ticket = $100
(104 drawings)


Season Tickets | MA State Lottery

Lottery Revenue Helps Communities Across Massachusetts - We All Win!

Lottery revenues are distributed to the 351 cities and towns of the Commonwealth according to a local aid formula established by Legislature. Lottery funds are not earmarked for any specific programs, allowing cities and towns to choose how they would like to spend the funds. For example, hiring new police officers or purchasing firefighting equipment.

About The Lottery | MA State Lottery

 

[Bob Blaylock]

All states should have a lottery as people have every right to play games and possibly win. It is called freedom!

Odd definition of freedom—one in which government claims a monopoly on a particular dubiously-ethical form of commerce, which it operates in a less honest and less ethical manner than similar commerce is operated by private enterprise in those states where doing so is legal.

I'm on the fence about gambling as a whole, whether it should be legal or not. I tend to lean toward not.

But if it is to be legal, then it ought to be at least equally legal for anyone who is willing to put up the capital, take the risks, and abide by some reasonable regulations, to operate a gambling business, such as a casino or a privately-run lottery. If it is not to be legal for private enterprise, then it ought not be legal for government either.

I can find no rational cause why government should be allowed to engage in it, while prohibiting private enterprise from doing so as well. In fact,given how far-removed gambling is from any legitimate government function, it makes more sense to prohibit government from engaging it it, while allowing the private sector to do so, than to allow government to do so while prohibiting the private sector.

It is called freedom!

Freedom is not about what powers government reserves to itself; but about what rights and liberties government refrains from denying the people.

 

[Grandma]

As long as Utah is known as the Mormon State it won't happen.

Gambling is considered a sin, and while a government-sponsored raffle might eventually be accepted, there's the slippery slope argument that someone will build a casino right next to the Mormon Tabernacle.

Maybe 50 years from now things will change.

 

[barryqwalsh]

All states should have a lottery as people have every right to play games and possibly win. It is called freedom!

Odd definition of freedom—one in which government claims a monopoly on a particular dubiously-ethical form of commerce, which it operates in a less honest and less ethical manner than similar commerce is operated by private enterprise in those states where doing so is legal.

I'm on the fence about gambling as a whole, whether it should be legal or not. I tend to lean toward not.

But if it is to be legal, then it ought to be at least equally legal for anyone who is willing to put up the capital, take the risks, and abide by some reasonable regulations, to operate a gambling business, such as a casino or a privately-run lottery. If it is not to be legal for private enterprise, then it ought not be legal for government either.

I can find no rational cause why government should be allowed to engage in it, while prohibiting private enterprise from doing so as well. In fact,given how far-removed gambling is from any legitimate government function, it makes more sense to prohibit government from engaging it it, while allowing the private sector to do so, than to allow government to do so while prohibiting the private sector.

It is called freedom!

Freedom is not about what powers government reserves to itself; but about what rights and liberties government refrains from denying the people.

If we don't have legal state lotteries, illegal lotteries would mushroom, especially online.

It is far better to have state lotteries, with the revenue used to benefit the common good.

Let's not make the perfect the enemy of the good!

 

[barryqwalsh]

As long as Utah is known as the Mormon State it won't happen.

Gambling is considered a sin, and while a government-sponsored raffle might eventually be accepted, there's the slippery slope argument that someone will build a casino right next to the Mormon Tabernacle.

Maybe 50 years from now things will change.

Until then, Utahns will continue to raise revenue for other states!