Tucked away in this year's several-hundred-page budget bill is a very small section that could have a big impact on the operations of the Vermont Lottery. It's a change that has strongly divided the House and the Senate.
The issue? Whether or not electronic lottery consoles should be allowed in bars.
Right now, the lottery is running a pilot project where consoles have been put in 25 businesses that have a liquor license.
Lottery Director Greg Smith says these consoles offer an electronic version of many of the lottery's existing scratch off games. And as far as Smith is concerned, the program has been a great success.
"The locations that we are in, people are happy with it," says Smith. "People are spending under control. We've had no complaints from any of these locations."
But the future of this program is threatened by state law. Last year, the Legislature passed a bill that prohibits a business with a liquor license from selling lottery products.
That law goes into effect on July 1.
Smith wants lawmakers to repeal this law. He's concerned that fraternal organizations will still be allowed to sell break-open tickets at their bars after the July 1 deadline.
"I don't believe that it actually does anything other than restrict the lottery," he explains. "I don't believe it actually benefits the state or benefits the separation of alcohol and gambling in an effective way."
"I think it's time to be realistic and accept the fact that people are going to gamble. So what we should be doing is trying to make sure that it's done in a regulated manner." — Rutland Sen. Kevin Mullin
The Senate budget plan repeals the current law. Rutland Sen. Kevin Mullin, chairman of the Senate Economic Development committee, says he supports the lottery's position.
"I think it's time to be realistic and accept the fact that people are going to gamble," Mullin says. "So what we should be doing is trying to make sure that it's done in a regulated manner."
But House leaders strongly oppose repealing the law and want the upcoming ban to stay in place.
South Burlington Rep. Helen Head is the chairwoman of the House General Committee.
"Our concern is that gambling and alcohol often don't mix," says Head. "We are concerned that a number of these machines are located in bars in areas where low-income Vermonters will come and spend money while drinking, money that they really just can't afford to lose."
Because legislative leaders want to adjourn this weekend, they will need to find a compromise to this issue by Friday.
