Nevada lawmakers decline to advance lottery amendment, leaving 160-year ban in place

Nevada’s attempt to overturn its historic ban on state-run lotteries has once again stalled, after lawmakers failed to advance a resolution that would have put the matter to a public vote.

Assembly Joint Resolution 5 (AJR 5), which sought to remove a constitutional ban on lotteries first enacted in 1864, missed a critical deadline when it was not taken up by the committee of origin before Friday last week. Without action, the measure cannot move forward in the 2025 legislative session.

The proposal had cleared both legislative chambers in 2023, the first of two required approvals before a constitutional amendment can be presented to voters. Backed by Culinary Local 226, the state’s largest hospitality union, the resolution aimed to fund youth mental health services through lottery proceeds.

Union leaders voiced frustration over the decision not to continue the process. “When politicians talk about democracy being at risk, but block Nevadans from voting on something as straightforward as a state lottery, their words ring hollow. Actions speak louder than rhetoric,” said Culinary secretary-treasurer Ted Pappageorge.

“With federal cuts looming, uncertainty around the state budget, and lack of funding for education and mental health, Nevadans need real solutions, and we need them now. Politicians cannot complain about budget shortfalls while refusing to even consider a bill that would bring in new revenue.”

A 2023 poll by the Nevada Independent and Noble Predictive Insights found strong public support for the initiative, with about 71 percent of respondents favoring a statewide lottery.

But legislative leadership cited economic concerns, particularly around start-up costs and uncertain returns. “Participation in those multistate games comes with implementation costs and will not generate much revenue for the state,” said Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager, D-Las Vegas.

“In addition, the lottery hits lower-income individuals the hardest. As we did last session, the legislature will make preserving education and mental health funding a priority.”

Yeager noted that lawmakers had already passed the measure once, offering ample time to weigh its potential benefits and drawbacks. “After much thoughtful consideration, and with so much economic uncertainty and shocking federal funding cuts, this measure will not move forward,” he said.

Nevada is one of only five states without a state lottery. Its absence has fueled business across the border, where retailers in Primm Valley and Verdi, California, just steps from Nevada, are among the top lottery ticket sellers in that state.

Opponents of AJR 5 included the Nevada Resort Association, which represents the state’s powerful gaming industry. “We applaud their decision not to revisit changing Nevada’s Constitution,” the association said.