Apparently there is a push in parts of the country, Vermont in this particular story, to privatize state lotteries.  The move gives governments a quick cash payment - something many are in desperate need of right now - as well as “a guaranteed revenue stream.”  The downside is that with private entities controlling the lotteries the marketing campaigns will most certainly be more vigorous, which could lead to increased numbers of problem gamblers.

I say privatize the lotteries in states where they are legal.  Governments have no business whatsoever engaging in for profit endeavors, including lotteries and alcoholic beverage sales.  Those activities are best left to the private sector where the pressures of competition yield the most desirable product offerings in a way that monopolies, or at least entities with a built in advantage, cannot.

Related:

• A fresh look at state run education lotteries

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This entry was posted by Brian on Wednesday, March 19th, 2008 at 7:01 pm and is filed under Government. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Please note the copyright policy.