ACTION ALERT—SB 180—ONLINE SALE OF LOTTERY TICKETS AND/OR VLT’s (SLOT MACHINES) ACROSS THE STATE IN CONVENIENCE STORES, ETC.
Senate Bill 180, LOTTERY AUTHORITY’S PROCUREMENT OF CERTAIN SYSTEMS, reads in Section 1.B., “The authority may contract for a period of up to ten years for lottery instant ticket printing and lottery gaming systems for maximum pricing efficiencies.”
“Lottery gaming systems” could be implemented with either: (1) Video Lottery Terminals (VLT’s), or (2) Internet purchase of lottery tickets.
First, VLT’s have been in operation in Oregon, New York, South Dakota, and several other states for years. They sometimes start as electronic facsimiles of paper lottery games, but eventually morph into video poker and other casino games. They operate like, and are in fact slot machines run by the state lottery.That would allow VLT’s (read slots) at every convenience store, gas station, beauty salon, supermarket, etc. in every neighborhood in New Mexico.
Second, The lottery director floated the request for Online sales of lottery tickets in a presentation to the Legislative Finance Committee in 2014. This would make available the purchase of lottery tickets on computers and all mobile devices from the bedroom, the boardroom, the dormitory and on the run.
If this were to happen, it would be the beginning of legalized Internet gambling in the state. Having crossed that threshold, what logic would prevent the introduction of online Poker, followed by other casino games?
Legalizing VLT’s and/or Internet sales of lottery tickets would be the most massive expansion of gambling in the state in decades.
SB 180 is scheduled in Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee next Monday, on February 8. I have a list of the committee members and links to their contact information below. If you cannot open their websites, call the legislative switchboard at 505-906-4300 and ask for their office. The most effective contacts available are in person, followed by telephone contact to their office, followed by faxes, followed by email.
Please contact as many of these committee members as possible by Monday morning at the latest. If you call, you will most likely have to leave a message with their secretary. Be sure to say, “Please vote against SB 180 or get rid of the “lottery gaming system” language.” Add any other points you would like to make about VLT’s and Online gambling. Please be brief and courteous.
Cordially,
Dr. Guy C. Clark, chairman
Stop Predatory Gambling New Mexico
505-259-7541
SENATE CORPORATIONS AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
Senator Clemente Sanchez (chairman): https://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/legislator_details.aspx?SPONCODE=SSACL
Senator Benny Shendo: https://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/legislator_details.aspx?SPONCODE=SSHEN
Senator Lee Cotter: https://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/legislator_details.aspx?SPONCODE=SCOTT
Senator Mark Moores: https://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/legislator_details.aspx?SPONCODE=SMOOR
Senator Michael Padilla: https://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/legislator_details.aspx?SPONCODE=SPADI
Senator Mary Kay Papen: https://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/legislator_details.aspx?SPONCODE=SPAPE
Senator Sander Rue: https://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/legislator_details.aspx?SPONCODE=SSRUE
Senator John Sapien: https://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/legislator_details.aspx?SPONCODE=SSAPI
Senator William Sharer: https://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/legislator_details.aspx?SPONCODE=SSHAR
