Lottery seeks technical fixes to gaming statute; committee passes SB 83 with amendments

The House Ways and Means Committee met with officials from the Lottery Commission and approved technical revisions to Senate Bill 83, voting 20–0 for the amendment and 20–0 on the bill as amended.

Charlie McIntyre, the Lottery director, and Valerie King, identified as an administrator for problem-gambling matters, told the committee the changes correct inconsistencies and practical constraints in the existing draft. McIntyre said the bill’s original $1,000,000 bond cap for gaming operators “is not sufficient to reflect the liability of the operators during operating,” and asked that the cap be removed so the commission can set appropriate limits by rule. He also asked the committee to align the percentage that operators may use for promotional free play (15%) across definitions and sections that currently referenced 12.5%.

The proposed amendment also removes language sending problem-gambling funds to the Lottery Commission’s administration — under the recently adopted HB 2 those funds route to the Commission on Addiction Treatment and Prevention — and revises background-check language to reflect federal concerns so the FBI can continue to perform checks if acceptable to federal partners.

Representative Olm moved the committee recommendation (OTPA) and offered the amendment identified in the record as 2984; the committee approved the amendment by roll call, 20–0, then approved SB 83 as amended, 20–0. Representative Olm offered the majority report. Committee members said the technical edits were intended to ensure clarity and to avoid implementation problems if the statute remained inconsistent with existing licensing and federal procedures.

The Lottery requested the technical fix on short notice and sought time to send the revised language to the Office of Legislative Services if additional drafting changes were needed. The committee’s unanimous votes cleared the measure for further legislative action.