It’s like when those 300 Spartans went up against 100,000 Persians. Hint: That didn’t end well.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nFor some context, Nevada’s lottery ban has been in place since 1864.<\/p>\n
In 2009, a measure to overturn the lottery ban made it through the Nevada Assembly, but the move failed in the Senate.<\/p>\n
Nevada is one of just five states without a lottery. Other losers who have bad politicians include Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii and Utah.<\/p>\n
Beyond mental health concerns, lotteries contribute billions of dollars to education across the country. In California alone, the lottery has resulted in nearly $40 billion in education funding since 1985.<\/p>\n
Nevada has one of the lowest-ranking education systems in the country. Actually, it’s the worst, but “lowest-ranking” makes it less awkward. Nevada ranks 49th in education in the nation, but Hawaii and the District of Columbia aren’t ranked, so Nevada is last.<\/p>\n
There are some arguments against lotteries, but they tend to be what we refer to as “stupid.”<\/p>\n
The whole “tax on the poor” thing is weak, especially when you consider Las Vegas has about 200,000 slots machines. There are lots of forms of gambling in Nevada, lotteries are just another form of gambling.<\/p>\n
Another argument: “Not all the money goes to education!” Stop whining. You’re annoying everyone in your life, not just us.<\/p>\n
To change the lottery ban in Nevada, these are the steps: 1) The proposed amendment to the Nevada Constitution would be initiated in the Nevada Legislature as a joint resolution. Otherwise referred to as the “not happening stage.” 2) The resolution would have to be approved with no alterations in two successive legislative sessions by both houses of the state legislature. Also known as the “when pigs fly stage.” 3) The proposed amendment would have to be put before Nevadans for a vote in a general election. (See #1 and #2, cue laughter.)<\/p>\n
So, despite the fact Nevada isn’t getting a lottery, props to Cameron “C.H.” Miller for giving it a go, and probably being permanently banned from casinos by use of facial recognition software.<\/p>\n