A bill that could change the course of Nevada’s state lottery hopes and a 160-year-old law has been stalled in legislative limbo.
According to state litigators, Assembly Joint Resolution Number 5 (AJR 5) never received a hearing in the most recent session of the Nevada legislative floor. The decision dashed the hopes of those in favor of creating a state-run lottery in the Silver State and kept the century-and-a-half-old legal pillar in place.
Nevada state lottery hits legislative wall
Nevada is known for being strict on the state lottery debate, and those in favour have been battling to turn heads since 2023. The state is also one of only five in the United States that does not have a registered and approved lottery in place.
Most state residents are known to cross the lines of California and Arizona to place a wager on the massive jackpots, such as Powerball or Megabucks lotteries that circulate through the gaming calendar year.
Lawmakers in favour have been attempting to gain from the lost dollars that rival states snap up, and these individuals are pleading the case that the tax earnings could improve the state’s infrastructure.
Now that the committee that tabled AJR 5 missed their opportunity to have the bill heard in the early April session, it spells doom for the bill being part of the 2025 legislative session.
Culinary Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge said as part of a statement regarding the decision, “It’s irresponsible that Democratic leadership in the Nevada Legislature refused to even give AJR5 a hearing, killing legislation they supported last session and denying Nevadans the opportunity to have their voices heard.”
However, there are those in favour of keeping the tradition of the ban on state-wide lotteries in Nevada a constant. This law harks back to 1864 and is a cornerstone of the state legislature.
The Nevada Independent quoted Resort Association President Virginia Valentine as saying the decision to deny the bill should have been applauded.
“We applaud [lawmakers’] decision not to revisit changing Nevada’s Constitution and overturning longstanding state policy,” wrote Valentine, according to the Nevada news institution.
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