Idaho abolished its Powerball lottery on Wednesday following a proposal to allow other countries to participate.
Idaho’s House State Affairs Committee has brought down legislation that would have changed Idaho’s current law that only allows lotteries in their state to be played by people from the US and Canada, the Associated Press reported
Powerball is expanding to allow those in Great Britain and Australia to play, making the sale of Powerball lottery tickets illegal under Idaho law. The legislation was intended to quash the law so the state could continue to sell Powerball lottery tickets.
The legislation was voted down 10-4, with Republicans and Democrats wary of allowing other countries into the fold.
Idaho Lottery officials argue that this could hurt state revenue and affect the amount of money the Idaho school system would receive drawn from the lottery.
Powerball lottery tickets give the state $ 28 million in sales, and $ 14 million of the money made from those sales goes to schools.
“My concern is delegating authority, and essentially handing over our sovereignty to this Multi-State Lottery Association,” said the Democratic Rep. Chris Mathias. “I think we should be concerned that they could be persuaded, there could be heavy lobbying by countries that we are not particularly close to.”
Jeff Anderson, director of the Idaho Lottery, tried to tell lawmakers before the vote that countries like China will never participate in the Powerball lottery, according to the Associated Press.
“What we have is 32 years of Idahoans who can voluntarily participate in a lottery game of their choice,” Anderson said after the legislation was repealed. ‘It has been okay for thirty-two years, not anymore. It’s very disturbing. “
The last Powerball draw will take place in August.