Surprising Reasons Behind No Lottery States

A recent bill was proposing a state lottery for Utah. Governor Cox of Utah stated that he is not a big fan of the lottery. St. George News posted his response,

I think lotteries are taxes on people who are bad at math and do more harm than good.

Which states in the union have held that line of not having a lottery? It might surprise you that there are 5 states that have decided not to tax those of us who are bad at math.

It might surprise you more to find out which states are on the list. They are:

Alabama
Alaska
Hawaii
Nevada
Utah

What are the chances that of the 5 states Utah and Nevada, border brothers, would be holdouts?

Here is the lottery situation for each state on the list. Brace yourself for more surprises in the reasons behind the policy:

Alabama: Alabama's 1901 Constitution officially prohibits lotteries and games of chance. Despite this, local amendments have permitted some form of gaming around the state, primarily at dog tracks. Additionally, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, a federally recognized tribe, operates gaming facilities in the state.

Alaska: Alaska has refrained from introducing statewide and multistate lotteries, partly due to concerns that such games would diminish interest or revenue from legal charitable lotteries in the state.

Hawaii: Hawaii's criminal code categorizes participation in any gambling as a misdemeanor, with promoting gambling considered a class C felony. While Hawaii residents can legally purchase tickets for out-of-state lotteries, the sale of lottery tickets from other states is prohibited within state lines.

Nevada: Despite being a hub for gambling, Nevada's State Constitution has never permitted the sale of statewide or multi-state lottery tickets. Early on, lotteries were viewed as crooked. Other forms of gambling — like those played on casino floors — were tolerated. Even today, the gaming industry sees them as competition for revenue.

Utah: Utah's state constitution explicitly prohibits the authorization of any game of chance, lottery, or gift enterprise. While it's not illegal for Utah residents to buy tickets for out-of-state lotteries, the sale of lottery tickets from other states is prohibited within Utah's borders.