State joins list of others tapping into lottery
Source: By Joseph Spector, Ithaca Journal (NY), January 11, 2007
Gov. Eliot Spitzer's announcement this week to explore a lease of the state lottery puts New York among a number of states looking to roll the dice on getting an infusion of cash to pay for services.
But from constitutionality questions to concerns about the social consequences of putting the gambling operations in private hands, no state has yet to adopt the potentially lucrative deals.
Lawmakers and gaming experts Thursday questioned whether New York would face the same issues as it explores either selling future lottery revenue in a lump sum or leasing it to a private entity for possibly up to 40 years.