Nebraska lottery bill advances

Lawmakers have passed a lottery bill that would require the state to disclose the odds of winning the biggest prize available in its advertisements.

US.- The Nebraska lottery may soon have to change the way it advertises its games as lawmakers have voted a bill for it. In a 38-0 vote, lawmakers backed the bill, which would require the state lottery to disclose the odds of winning. Specifically, it targets the biggest prize available, which would have to be shown in the game’s ads.

The proposed legislation was introduced by Senator Suzanne Geist and wants bettors to know the odds of winning. The lawmaker wants them to realise how “astronomical” they are to discourage people from playing when they can’t afford it.

Ads would have to display in a “clear and conspicuous manner” the odds of winning. The message would have to be at least 35% as large as the biggest font used in print advertisements. Online, at least a 10-point font would be required to show the odds, should the bill pass.

However, the bill still needs to pass through two more votes before it gets to the governor’s desk. That means it could still fail or, at least, be amended.