DISCLAIMER This report has been prepared at the request of Representative Charles C. Diggs, Jr., Chairman, House Committee on the District of Columbia. It was prepared by Ms. I. Vell Truehart, a legal intern from Antioch School of Law in Washington, D.C., with the committee from April-June, 1977, with the assistance of Ms. Inez Rountree of the committee staff. This document was prepared to promote a clearer perception of the issues involved and will be shared with the Mayor's Gambling Commission, at their request, to assist in their deliberations. It is a staff report which has neither been approved nor disapproved by the chairman or members of the committee. (III) 9. Conclusions and some recommendations to consider_. Use of RFK Stadium for dog racing__ A casino in the proposed civic center. A regular modern-day lottery, for example, as in Maryland A Tri-State National Capital Regional Lottery. 1. Illustration of a gambling house in the District of Columbia during 2. Sample of some of the lottery tickets used in the 1800's during the time when D.C. was authorized to conduct lotteries for civic 3. Letter from the National Council on Compulsive Gambling suggest- ing that a portion of monies realized from public gaming be set 4. News article on Morality and Religion vs. Legalized Gambling.. 5. Two examples of the type of sweepstakes sent in the mail from pri- 8. Washington Post article on Maryland daily lottery game.. 9. Cover from Crystal Ball Numbers Game Booklet. (This type of book is used by some people to help them decide what lottery 10. Subscription application form for Maryland lottery (people can subscribe to the lottery through the mail but the form must be mailed in Maryland) __ 11. Article on the newly opened school for croupiers in D.C.-to train people to work in casinos___ 12. Samples of P.R. material advertising the Maryland lottery 13. Tables-From Gambling In America. Commission on the review of Table 4-5 Gambling and family income, by type of game___ Table 4-12 Excitement rating for 13 gambling activities___ Lotteries in the District of Columbia-1812-43_ Horse racing in the District of Columbia (a brief history) –. 1. INTRODUCTION Lotteries are now legal in 14 States and are either in the planning or legislative stage in several others. This study will examine various aspects of State mandated lotteries that should be evaluated in considering the merits of having a city-controlled lottery in Washington, D.C. The actual method of lottery operation varies by State, but the principle is the same. People may legally purchase lottery tickets from licensed vendors (usually grocery stores, drug stores, etc.) for prices ranging from 25 cents to $5. Sometimes season tickets may be purchased. Changes are constantly being made to attract bettors. There may be daily drawings, weekly drawings, monthly jackpots, million dollar winners, et cetera. The main difference between the lotteries and the legal numbers games such as New Jersey's "Pick-It" is that lottery bettors do not get to choose their own numbers (with the exception in some States for people who buy season tickets). Even the season ticket buyers are unable to pick a new number each day unless they buy a new season ticket each day.1 This report will cover both the positive and negative aspects of State sponsored lotteries. The study is fairly comprehensive, but it is not all inclusive because more States are operating lotteries each year. The addition of more States changes the statistics and reports rapidly become outdated. (To ensure obtaining the latest material on all State lottery statutes, be certain to check the pocket parts of any State statute being reviewed while using this study. The material used in this study is current through July 1977, as far as this researcher could determine. In certain cases, the author has indicated Sources that the reader may want to review for more details than are treated herein.) In compiling this study, the author researched books, papers, magazines, Congressional reports, and State statutes; and conducted interviews with local citizens and Hill staff. She also utilized the facilities of the Library of Congress, the Congressional Research Service, the Washingtonian section of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library and took two trips to Annapolis and Baltimore. A trip was taken to gather research in Annapolis and meet with Mr. Willard Morris, head of the election committee in Annapolis. The second trip was made to meet with the director of public relations and to talk with Mr. Stanley Fine, director of the Maryland State Lottery Commission, in BaÏtimore, Md. 2. LOTTERIES IN OTHER STATES According to the U.S. Census Budget Report "State Government Finances in 1975," the 12 State lotteries in operation during fiscal "Gambling In America" Commission on the Review of the National Policy Toward Gambling, Washington, D.C., 1976. Available Government Printing Office (appendix 2, P. C-3). |