OUR VIEW: Indiana's lottery changes must make sense for Hoosiers
Star Press (Gannett)
Editorial
Aug. 6, 2012
The clock is ticking to a deadline to make a decision regarding the Hoosier Lottery. The Indiana State Lottery Commission set Aug. 31 as the day to receive full bids for “privatizing” the lottery. Bids will include a business plan and the net income proposed. A recommendation could be forthcoming in September. The lottery commission is seeking bids to help boost revenue and enhance performance and marketing.
Fair enough.
Now that the lottery is 23 years old this year, it’s worth spending some money to find out where improvements can be made. But it would be a mistake to turn over the lottery to a private concern, which is something lottery officials said last May will not happen. We hope not.
Whereas the Indiana Toll Road is a physical asset that can be leased, for the most part, a lottery has far less tangible assets, but the stakes and cash changing hands is significant. More than $4 billion in profits have been realized in the past 23 years of the lottery.
That’s why the state needs to maintain significant oversight into lottery operations. Companies involved in the bidding must have untainted reputations. Let’s also add they must present a clear business model that shows this is a good opportunity for the state and the taxpayers, especially for the long term.
That model must also demonstrate why taking some operations private is better than allowing the state to maintain that function.
Leasing the toll road seemed like a good idea (and still is) because of the cash it generated for highway projects. But the money is about to run out. Opponents are going to point to the lease as one reason the lottery should not be privatized.
Whether it’s called privatization or just getting some marketing help, any outlay by the lottery must be above board and make economic sense.
Otherwise, it will be a tough sell.
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