Did you know that Nevada is the only gaming state without a lottery? It’s true. And it’s not just about buying a ticket to win millions. It’s about our state constitution, local control, and who gets to decide how Nevada raises and spends money.
What’s Happening Now
A new poll from the Culinary Union shows this is what Nevadans want. About 84% of people support creating a state lottery, and 80% would back lawmakers who try to make it happen. The money would go toward youth mental health programs and education.
RELEASE: Culinary Union releases new polling showing that 84% of Nevadans support the creation of a Nevada State Lottery, urges #NVLEG to re-introduce the bill, and let voters ultimately decide. https://t.co/mRwnpfFLtr pic.twitter.com/ueJpP6YgZJ
— Culinary Union (@Culinary226) March 27, 2025
Nevada lawmakers are considering a resolution (Assembly Joint Resolution 5) that would change our state constitution to allow a lottery. If it passes the legislature again in 2025, voters would get to decide in 2026 whether Nevada should join the rest of America in having a state lottery.
The Constitutional History
This isn’t just about gambling, it’s about our state’s founding principles. Our constitution has prohibited lotteries since 1864, when Nevada first became a state.
Back then, lotteries were often run by private companies with special government charters. These early lotteries were plagued by fraud and corruption since they weren’t well regulated. To protect citizens, many states, including Nevada, banned lotteries in their constitutions.
As the resolution states:
“These lotteries were the principal evil which led to their prohibition in state constitutions.”
Why This Matters to Conservatives
For folks who believe in limited government and local control, this issue touches on several core values:
- Direct Democracy: Shouldn’t voters get to decide important issues? The current push would let Nevadans vote directly on this change.
- Constitutional Limits on Government: The proposed amendment specifically prohibits the legislature from granting special charters to operate lotteries. This prevents the very abuse that led to lottery bans in the 1800s.
- Local Decision-Making: Nevada is the only gaming state without a lottery, even though these same casino companies operate in states with both casinos and lotteries.
What Critics Say
The gaming industry claims a lottery would hurt their business. But the facts show otherwise. Mississippi casinos made $2.4 billion in 2024 while their state lottery raised $125 million for infrastructure and education. Missouri casinos brought in $1.9 billion in 2023 while their lottery generated $379 million for education.
According to the Culinary Union poll, 63% of Nevadans believe some politicians have changed their stance on allowing a lottery vote because they’re “buckling to gaming industry money and pressure.”
Real Lives at Stake
According to the Culinary Union’s press release, Elsa Roldan, who has worked as a hotel room attendant for 17 years, shared her struggle with Nevada’s mental health system:
“For the last decade, I have been dealing with Nevada’s mental health services and I have seen first hand how it’s failing our youth.”
The press release states that she couldn’t get timely help for her son with depression, even with good union benefits:
“I would try to make appointments for him, but openings were always a month out.”
The Path Forward
The constitutional amendment process requires passage in two consecutive legislative sessions before going to voters. Assembly Joint Resolution 5 passed in 2023 with votes of 26-15 in the Assembly and 12-8 in the Senate. Now it needs to pass again in 2025 before voters can decide in 2026.
This isn’t just about lottery tickets—it’s about who decides Nevada’s future and whether our constitution should change with the times while still protecting against the abuses of the past.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
