With the upcoming February start of the 2025 Nevada Legislative Session, one of the hot button topics will be a proposal to lift a 159-year ban on a state lottery service in Nevada.
Although many nonlocals might assume the state — home to the premier global gambling destination of Las Vegas — already has scratch-offs and Powerball tickets for sale, it actually does not. In fact, the big casinos of Sin City have historically been very much opposed to the idea. And they still are.
However, that doesn’t mean state politicians aren’t ready to push the idea. In 2023, Assembly Joint Resolution Five (AJR5) passed the Nevada Assembly at the State Capitol in Carson City (pictured). This year, it will need Senate approval before a second look from the Assembly, and if it passes that, it will go to a public referendum.
Politicians in support say demand is there, referencing the consistent queues of Nevada residents at California Lottery retailers in small state border towns like Primm. Residents of the state also usually poll a majority in favor of a lottery.
However, casino resort trade group the Nevada Resort Association has been actively opposing the drive, and high-level Las Vegas execs have written to the legislature with their concerns.
The State of Play
Although it doesn’t have a state lottery, large numbers of Nevadans certainly buy tickets. But they go across state lines to buy them in California.
In fact, the California Lottery says the lottery outlet in Primm Valley, Nevada, is the busiest of all its licensed locations at some times of the year. Las Vegas-based Affinity Gaming runs the small but popular lottery booth just down the interstate – and across state lines – from the now-closed Whiskey Pete’s and Buffalo Bills.
Nevada is one of the only states without a lottery, the others being Hawaii, Utah, Alabama, and Alaska. However, none of them have widespread legal casino gambling and sports betting like Nevada does.
The last time Nevada came even close to getting a lottery was in 1899, when a bill passed the House. However, it failed to get past the Senate in its 1901 second look.
Proponents point to customer demand, public support, and increased state control over gambling revenues as reasons to introduce a state lottery. Detractors say the lottery doesn’t provide anywhere near the amount of jobs, revenues, and community engagement that the casinos of Las Vegas and Reno do.
Some politicians also pointed out that the U.S. Lottery system pools payments based on ticket sales for popular big jackpot games like Mega Millions and Powerball.
That could mean revenues are minimal for Nevada, with its small population, in comparison to the tens of millions in taxes paid by the state’s casino operators every month.
The House’s Odds
That historic opposition from politicians and influential casino lobbyists makes the Lottery bill passing a long shot. If it does pass the House and Senate, however, it will be odds-on to pass a public referendum. In recent years, Nevada residents have consistently voiced they would like a state lottery when asked by pollsters.
The influential Culinary Union local Nevada chapter supported the lottery bill last year. Union leaders said the promise of direct earmarked money for state education and mental health services was the main reason behind its support.
However, the union hasn’t thrown its support behind the bill this year. That could be because its main proponent, Assemblyman Cameron Miller (D-7), did not seek reelection, and it isn’t clear what the winds may now be with the bill.
On the other hand, the Nevada Resort Association is apparently already stepping up its opposition. In 2023, Red Rock Resorts wrote to the legislature opposing the bill. Any objections in 2025 will probably follow on similar lines.
“Allowing a lottery and the government to compete against a robust privately run gaming industry goes against seven decades of public policy. Nevada’s history in gaming has proven that privileged gaming licenses are major economic engines…” wrote Red Rock’s Senior Vice President of Government Relations Michael Britt.
“On the contrary, lotteries are the opposite; they will divert revenue away from traditional brick-and-mortar casinos without creating a single job. A lottery may create revenue, but overall, the net income to the state will go down.”
This year, once again, the decision rests first with a few key committee members. Without the clear support of the union, and lacking its main proponent from last year, the Legislative Operations and Elections Committee could decide to not even put the measure to a House vote.
The 180-day Nevada legislative session begins on February 3 and lasts for 120 days. Another big topic of discussion will be the lessons learned and changes needed after the fallout from a wide-ranging federal investigation into several illegal California bookmakers and their money laundering connections with Las Vegas casinos, principally Resorts World Las Vegas.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
