Why doesn't Utah have a Lottery?

[colton]

Mormons.

are awesome.

;-)

 

[SaltyDawg]

What's the motivation for having it?

All of the extra money that it would bring in. Plus the fact that this is America and people should be free to make their own choices.

Right now plenty of people already play the lottery, they just give their money to Idaho, Arizona, and Colorado instead of giving it to Utah.

 

[colton]

All of the extra money that it would bring in.

What does "bring in" mean? As I said above, this money doesn't come from nowhere. If you want extra money to fund things, it's simpler/more cost effective/less regressive to simply increase taxes.

Plus the fact that this is America and people should be free to make their own choices.

Right, and the majority of people in this state have made the choice that they don't want a state lottery. Are you saying you'd rather impose your choice on all of those people?

Right now plenty of people already play the lottery, they just give their money to Idaho, Arizona, and Colorado instead of giving it to Utah.

I suspect the amount of money leaving Utah for lotteries in other states is truly miniscule. Do you have any data on that?

 

[TroutBum]

What does "bring in" mean? As I said above, this money doesn't come from nowhere. If you want extra money to fund things, it's simpler/more cost effective/less regressive to simply increase taxes.

Right, and the majority of people in this state have made the choice that they don't want a state lottery. Are you saying you'd rather impose your choice on all of those people?

I suspect the amount of money leaving Utah for lotteries in other states is truly miniscule. Do you have any data on that?

Yes, because The People just love to have their taxes increased... I agree with you about the majority of people don't want it, and I believe that is the only real reason we don't have one. My second thought on it would be that perhaps the ins, outs, what-have-you's haven't actually been presented in a professional manner. That is, I bet if someone with some power actually put some facts together and presented them with a good argument, the people of Utah might change their minds. In 30 years I don't recall ever hearing any argument about a lottery.

 

[SaltyDawg]

What does "bring in" mean? As I said above, this money doesn't come from nowhere. If you want extra money to fund things, it's simpler/more cost effective/less regressive to simply increase taxes.

Why raise taxes if you don't have to? I'm sure most people would rather not pay any extra in taxes. And if anyone wants to pay more in taxes, nobody is stopping them.

Right, and the majority of people in this state have made the choice that they don't want a state lottery. Are you saying you'd rather impose your choice on all of those people?

Nobody would be forced to play the lottery. If the majority of this state was against it, they would not have to play. And I doubt the majority of this state is against it anyway. Most people don't care either way, while some want one and others are against it.

I suspect the amount of money leaving Utah for lotteries in other states is truly miniscule. Do you have any data on that?

I don't have any current data, but a few years ago I read that the stores selling the most Idaho lottery tickets were the ones on the Utah border.

 

[trigg3r]

It sure would be easier to get my lottery tickets if we had it. Maybe someday. Then again, probably not. I at least hope Trout and the wife had an enjoyable drive up to Idaho to buy their tickets. I will say it is a beautiful drive depending which way you go of course.

 

[TroutBum]

It sure would be easier to get my lottery tickets if we had it. Maybe someday. Then again, probably not. I at least hope Trout and the wife had an enjoyable drive up to Idaho to buy their tickets. I will say it is a beautiful drive depending which way you go of course.

We had fun. The kids got a little restless after a few hours, but it was enjoyable. We listened to a lot of Rammstein and there is some sort of weird awesomeness hearing both my 4 year old and 1 year old singing in German.

 

[aybars]

640 million dollars,,thats sick,,bigest lotery win in europe was 129 million euro..it was in 2010,and someone in italy won it.italian maffia still looking for the winner,,to get their cut

 

[GVC]

Every other state lottery is a redistribution of wealth from their state to Utah through federal income taxes. We're one of the few states smart enough to not take a huge chunk of our local economy and export it to the Treasury. It's much more beneficial to get the money through tax revenues than to lock up a couple hundred million inside one pocket while taking 35%+ of that money out of your economy.

Apparently all the morons in this thread missed this brilliant post by Franklin.

Morons...

 

[TroutBum]

Apparently all the morons in this thread missed this brilliant post by Franklin.

Morons...

I didn't miss it, but to be honest, I figured the 42 states that have lotteries probably have a better idea of what's cooking than franklin does. It IS franklin, by the way.

 

[SaltyDawg]

I didn't miss it, but to be honest, I figured the 42 states that have lotteries probably have a better idea of what's cooking than franklin does. It IS franklin, by the way.

*43 states have either the powerball or mega millions lottery. The only ones that don't have either are Mississippi, Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming.

California has the mega millions, but not the powerball. Florida has the powerball but not the mega millions. All of the rest of the states have both. And I think all of them have their own state lotteries too.

 

[TroutBum]

Wow, thanks for taking the time to point that out, Salty.


My point still stands.