Bill Requiring Disclosure Of Lottery Odds Advances

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP April 8) – Nebraska lawmakers have advanced a bill requiring the state lottery to prominently disclose the odds of winning the biggest available prize in its game advertisements.

The measure won first-round approval Monday on a 38-0 vote.

The bill by state Sen. Suzanne Geist, of Lincoln, is designed to help players understand the astronomical odds of getting a big payoff and discourage people from playing when they can’t afford it.

The chances of winning would have to be displayed in a “clear and conspicuous manner” and would have to be at least 35 percent as large as the biggest font used in print advertisements. For online advertisements, the odds would have to be disclosed in at least 10-point font.

Two more votes are required before the bill goes to the governor.