Amendment proposes new state lottery

(Salt Lake City, UT) — A proposal to amend Utah’s constitution to allow a state lottery is now filed in the legislature. Representative Kera Birkeland is chief sponsor of the legislation. If passed through the house and senate, officials say this joint proposal would instruct the lieutenant governor to put the question onto the ballot for voters to consider. The amendment bans other games of chance and gambling but allows a state-operated lottery. Birkeland says Utahns spend approximately 200-million dollars annually in other states for lottery tickets. If it gets to the ballot and voters approve, it would take effect on January 1st next year.