Nebraska bill requiring disclosure of lottery odds advances

Apr 9, 2019, 7:32 am (4 comments)

Nebraska Lottery

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska lawmakers have advanced a bill requiring the state lottery to prominently disclose the odds of winning the biggest available prize in its game advertisements.

The measure won first-round approval Monday on a 38-0 vote.

The bill by state Sen. Suzanne Geist, of Lincoln, is designed to help players understand the astronomical odds of getting a big payoff and discourage people from playing when they can't afford it.

The chances of winning would have to be displayed in a "clear and conspicuous manner" and would have to be at least 35 percent as large as the biggest font used in print advertisements. For online advertisements, the odds would have to be disclosed in at least 10-point font.

Two more votes are required before the bill goes to the governor.

What do you think: Is this law needed to keep people safe from buying hard-to-win lottery games, or is it a colossal waste of time because everyone already knows the lottery is really, really hard to win?

AP

Comments

TheMeatman2005's avatarTheMeatman2005

I think it's a good idea to discourage the newcomers. Those that think.....Hmmm, I'll just buy a lottery ticket and strike it rich!

The veteran players are well aware of the slim-to-none odds, but most keep playing anyway. We know that someone is going to win eventually, so why can't it be me?

One day, I hope to be hit by lottery lightning while being attacked by a shark while on dry land!

cottoneyedjoe's avatarcottoneyedjoe

If the NE legislature wants to discourage people from playing the state lottery, they should also remind players of this story: https://www.lotterypost.com/news/323879

music*'s avatarmusic*

Lincoln, Nebraska.  February 22, 2006, A big day for Power Ball for eight winners. The total prize was $365,000,000.00   There is a video on Amazon called, "Lucky". That shows one of these winner's life. Quang V. Dao and family.

 Lincoln was first named by the Railroad Company, "Lincoln Station".

Coin Toss's avatarCoin Toss

Aren't the odds printed on the back of the play slips and scratchers?

This article lends credence to the saying that the N on Nebraska's football helmets stands for "Knowledge"

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