Gambling, ‘communist countries’: Idaho House debates continuing Powerball lottery game
A divisive vote in the Idaho House on Tuesday allowed the state to continue participating in the Powerball lottery, which is expected to generate more than $200 million for public schools and state facilities over the next decade.
The legislation allows Idaho to maintain its stake in the game as the Multi-State Lottery Association — the nonprofit that oversees multi-jurisdictional lottery games — moves to expand Powerball participation to the United Kingdom and Australia.
Many Idaho legislators objected to the state sanctioning gambling, while others were wary of the politics in the newly participating countries. For similar reasons, the Legislature last year nearly ended Powerball’s more than three-decade run in Idaho.
On Tuesday, the House passed the Powerball bill by a 41-25 vote.
House Assistant Majority Leader Jason Monks, a Meridian Republicanwho sponsored the bill, noted his objection to gambling but said lottery games, such as Mega Millions and the Idaho Lottery, would continue if Powerball were eliminated.
“This will not stop the lottery if you vote against it,” Monks said. “To me, that’s picking a winner and picking a loser.”
Rep. Randy Armstrong, an Inkom Republican who opposed the bill, said he once bought a Powerball ticket — “I hope you don’t tell the people at Sunday school that,” he said — and lay awake thinking about everything he could do with the $500 million jackpot. Gambling, including the lottery, is “addictive” and “destructive,” he said.
“Virtually every religion in the world has a tenet in their religion which rejects or warns against gambling,” Armstrong said. “They’ve recognized how detrimental to society gambling is.”
Rep. Heather Scott, a Blanchard Republican, opposed the bill because of the newly participating countries. The Powerball is already international — Canada participates — but the Multi-State Lottery Association is looking to expand to the U.K. and Australia.
“I don’t like the fact we’re going into communist countries,” Scott said.
Her comments appeared to draw laughter, and she later said, “I don’t know why you’re all laughing, but I don’t appreciate it.” Neither the U.K. nor Australia has communist political systems.
In 2021, the Powerball raised more than $26.3 million in Idaho sales. Half went to Idaho schools. Lottery revenues in Idaho go to public schools and the state’s permanent building fund, which maintains state facilities, including universities.
Last year, public schools and the permanent building fund equally split close to $42 million, according to the Idaho Lottery’s annual report.
This story was originally published February 23, 2022 at 9:23 AM.
