HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — A freshman lawmaker is looking to offer a new way for local residents to gamble, and hopes it will result in profits for the government of Guam.
Sen. Dwayne San Nicolas on Monday introduced Bill 145-37, which proposes to establish the Guam Lottery Commission to oversee in-person and online lotteries.
The legislation aims for the island to “cultivate and form another industry that will further bolster the economy and create another revenue source that can be utilized for a variety of government programs or to address the island’s financial burdens,” San Nicolas said in a press release issued by his office.
San Nicolas said the idea of the bill came about when he was thinking about his childhood.
“When I was a child, my dad would always bring home scratch cards,” he said. “I would spend 20 minutes with a nickel scratching the card. That was exciting as a child to win money by scratching something off.”
His measure, however, doesn’t allow children, and even some adults, to take part in lotteries.
“No persons under the age of 21 shall be allowed to participate in the operation and administration of the lottery and participate in any lottery games,” the bill states.
Lottery commission
If passed as introduced, the commission will be considered a public corporation and an autonomous instrumentality, composed of five members appointed by the governor to staggered terms. One member must have at least five years experience in law enforcement, one must have five years experience in the retail industry and one must be a certified public accountant. The two remaining members shall come from the business community, the bill mandates.
Members appointed to the commission, according to the measure, will enjoy job protections not given to other executive appointees.
“No courtesy resignation shall be requested by a new administration of the government of Guam nor shall any commissioners offer to resign,” the measure mandates.
Source of revenue
The bill touts revenue generated from similar state-run lotteries, including in an unincorporated territory like Guam.
“In the territory of (the) U.S. Virgin Islands, the territorial lottery agency, the Virgin Islands Lottery, is one of the highest revenue contributors to its treasury, providing an average of $4 million to several government programs such as their public schools, the Veterans Affairs office, the Pharmaceutical Assistance Program, and the General Fund,” the measure states.
Sen. Dwayne San Nicolas speaks during session held Thursday, June 29, 2023, at the Guam Congress Building in Hagåtña.
