Imagine if every lottery ticket was a guaranteed winner.
For decades that has been the case for older Pennsylvanians, because the Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only one in the nation that returns all proceeds to programs for seniors. Since inception, the Lottery has generated $30 billion for lifesaving programs, including low-cost prescription drug programs, adult daily living centers, full and part-time senior centers, Meals on Wheels, and property tax relief among many other services.
But now that winning streak faces a growing threat from illegal gaming in the form of so-called ‘games of skill’ that are proliferating across the Commonwealth, as well as from proposals in Harrisburg to potentially expand other forms of gambling.
In 2018-19 alone, the Lottery contributed more than $283.7 million to Area Agencies on Aging across the state to provide a wide range of local services. In my work with seniors in Washington County, I have witnessed the real-life benefit of this funding. I’ve seen those on fixed income get vital medications they would never be able to afford on their own. I know seniors who receive property tax relief that has allowed them to stay in homes where they raised their children and made countless memories. And I have helped load meals that get delivered to those for whom Meals on Wheels is the only human contact they get all day.
Additionally, across the state, lottery funds helped to provide 8.9 million meals served at senior centers and delivered to homes, averaging more than 24,400 meals for older Pennsylvanians, every day.
That is why I just shake my head when I see illegal gambling machines popping up by the thousands in pizza parlors, gas stations, corner stores, bars, and taverns across our state.
There are 15,000 to 20,000 of these illegal machines in operation and many of these are placed in stores and gas stations right next to Lottery kiosks – by design. The goal, clearly, is to divert revenues from the Lottery to these machines
Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko has testified before lawmakers that two years ago only 8% of lottery retailers had at least one skill machine. Today, Svitko testified, almost 25% of all lottery retailers have skill games. As a result, some retailers are not opting to expand lottery offerings to include Keno and Xpress Sports. Svitko estimates the so-called skill games gambling will siphon off as much as $200 million annually this year alone from vital programs that have lifted the lives of millions of Pennsylvania’s older residents.
We cannot afford to lose this revenue at any time, but this threat is especially concerning right now. We know older Pennsylvanians will need greater assistance as we recover from the devastating impact this pandemic has had on our state and we know every dollar slid into these machines is a dollar taken from our seniors who count on lottery-funded services.
Advocates for older Pennsylvanians are banding together to demand that lawmakers step up and enact legislation that shuts down these machines once and for all.
Governor Tom Wolf has made his position crystal clear, stating these machines are “… illegal, unregulated, and put senior programs at risk.” Meanwhile, Pennsylvania State Police have testified that the operation of these machines are “ripe for corruption” and, further, that “There are no safeguards to prevent minors from gambling such as within our existing licensed casinos.”
Similarly, any revenues that could be diverted to any other new forms of gaming would jeopardize Lottery lifesaving programs. This is not the time to jeopardize these services. Lawmakers and Governor Wolf must focus their energies on protecting the PA Lottery and the Pennsylvanian seniors our organizations are privileged to serve.