Update: Opposition Amounts to Michigan Lottery’s Expansion to Online Sector

Apr 20, 2013
Update: Opposition Amounts to Michigan Lottery’s Expansion to Online Sector
Gloomy news arrived this week for online lottery prospects in Michigan, as the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and State Rep. Kevin Cotter, R-Mount Pleasant announced their support of House Bill 4531 which would effectively deny the Michigan Bureau of State Lottery and the Lottery Commission from allowing wagers to be placed through the internet reports Central Michigan Life.

And while the state government hopes that going online will boost tax revenues by up to $118 million over the first 4 years, rising to $361 million in the following four years, a large chunk of which should go to the Michigan School Aid Fund, Cotter expressed belief that the expansion to online involves too many risks especially involving the use of a credit card.

He said: “I believe this is one of the most dangerous parts of the proposal, as it would allow a pay-later approach to gaming. Currently, most lottery retailers only accept cash for wagers.”

On the other side, the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe is developing a free-play online gaming site in collaboration with Aristocrat Technologies, which should position it well in the event of online gambling legalization in the state.

Regarding this, Public Relations Director for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan, Frank Cloutier said: “We have a non-monetary online virtual experience with Aristocrat that we will be doing in the casino; it's just to be ready if online gaming becomes a reality at the end of the day as a business decision. Online gaming is not healthy for the state's economy; it's not a benefit for the tax payers of Michigan' and to be able to pay later for a wager today is just a poor choice.”
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