Idaho lifted its Powerball lottery on Wednesday after a proposal to allow other states to participate.
Idaho’s Home State Committee has repealed legislation that would change the current Idaho law that only allows lotteries in their state that are played by those from the U.S. and Canada, Associated Press. report.
Powerball expands and allows those in Britain and Australia to play, which will make the sale of Powerball lottery tickets illegal under Idaho law. The legislation was intended to override the law so that the state could continue to sell Powerball lottery tickets.
The legislation was voted 10-4 while Republicans and Democrats are careful to allow other countries into the herd.
Idaho Lottery officials argue that it could hurt state revenue and affect the amount of money the school system in Idaho receives from the lottery.
Powerball lottery tickets give the state $ 28 million in sales and $ 14 million of the money earned goes to schools.
“My concern is the delegation of authority and to essentially transfer our sovereignty to this Multi-State Lottery Association,” said Democratic Representative Chris Mathias. “I think we should be concerned that they may be persuaded, and that they may be heavily localized by countries with which we are not very friendly.”
Jeff Anderson, director of the Idaho Lottery, before the vote tried to tell lawmakers that countries like China would never join the Powerball lottery, according to the Associated Press.
“What we have is 32 years that Idahoans have been able to voluntarily participate in a lottery game of their choice,” Anderson said after the legislation was scrapped. ‘Thirty-two years it was OK, not now. This is very worrying. ”
The last Powerball drawing will take place in August.