Grant

McGalamery

McMurry

Big Game could come in October

FARHANAZ KERMALLI, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Saturday, March 9, 2002

LACEY -- Many South Sound residents are ready to play -- The Big Game, that is.

The state House of Representatives and Gov. Gary Locke will soon decide the fate of a bill to include Washington in the multistate lottery that some anticipate will ease the state's budget woes.

The state Senate has already approved adding The Big Game to the lottery lineup. Locke proposed adding The Big Game in his budget proposal.

The most recent additions to the multistate game are Ohio and New York. If Washington becomes the 10th state, tickets are likely to go on sale in October.

State Lottery Public Relations Coordinator Eric Jones said at least $24.9 million in revenue is expected in fiscal year 2003 if the state joins nine others in The Big Game.

About $32 million is expected in each of the following fiscal years, Jones said.

"Education is not going to lose," Jones said. "They're going to lock in $102 million of lottery revenue for the Student Achievement Fund."

Though lottery revenue already contributes that amount, Jones said The Big Game sales could guarantee the amount doesn't change.

The Big Game's large jackpots -- $30 million for Friday's drawing -- and the fact that Washington would be the only Western state participating, have great cross-border potential, said state Lottery Acting Director Bob Benson.

"A population of 5 million lives within a one-hour's drive from state borders," Benson said.

Benson said 20 percent of The Big Game sales would be generated from out-of-state players, with Canadians also participating.

The game's record jackpot was $363 million in May 2000.

The large prizes are the main attraction, said Liana White of Rochester.

"I've been wasting money on the smaller jackpots; I might as well waste it on the bigger ones," said White, 38. "You've got people like Tim Eyman cutting things out; his initiatives only helped the upper-middle class.

"Whatever we can do to help supplement those losses is just fine."

Lottery player Milissa Grant, 26, of Tumwater agrees.

"In Reno, their casinos help school districts and they fund a lot of things," she said. "It is a good strategy (for budget problems)."

Yet uncertainty over use of the revenue makes Larry McGalamery wary of the game's potential to ease the shortfall.

"I don't know if I'd play it; I don't know enough about it," said McGalamery, 54, of Lacey. "I don't particularly think it would help. The money doesn't go where they promise."

But if the jackpot were big enough, McGalamery said he'd give it a try.

The state should cash in on lottery sales, said Albert McMurry of Lacey.

"It appears people don't want to pay taxes, so (the Legislature) might as well take advantage of gambling, cigarettes and liquor."

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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