Judge: Powerball Will Not Be Halted
State Lawmaker Who Brought Lawsuit Not In Town For Hearing
PUEBLO, Colo. -- Colorado may participate in Powerball for
now, a judge ruled late Friday afternoon.
Pueblo District Judge Dennis Maes denied a preliminary
injunction sought by State Sen. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs,
to suspend Powerball while his lawsuit to keep the lottery out of
Colorado proceeds.
Colorado Lottery officials went to court
Friday to defend the state's participation in Powerball, saying
they will oversee ticket prices and drawings for the game.
Lamborn filed suit in June to block Colorado from joining the
multistate Powerball game. He said the way the game is supervised
and the way revenue is directed would violate the state
constitution.
Colorado Lottery officials say they will oversee ticket prices
and drawings for the game.
"We have the ultimate control of staying in or opting out,"
Colorado Lottery Commission Director Mark Zamarripa testified.
Lamborn was in New York and did not testify Friday.
Colorado Lottery attorney Maurice Knaizer said a ballot issue
last fall showed Coloradans approve of Powerball. "The public
interest, it seems to me at this point, is honoring the vote of the
people," he said.
The ruling will mean this Saturday's Powerball drawing will
proceed. Tickets went on sale Thursday morning, and by Friday, more
than 685,000 had been sold. The Saturday drawing, the first one
open to Colorado residents, has a $66 million jackpot.
Drawings are held in Des Moines, Iowa, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The largest-ever Colorado Lotto jackpot was $27 million in 1992.
Powerball opponents have said the game would hurt Colorado
Lottery ticket sales and the programs they support. Zamarripa said
he expects Colorado Lotto ticket purchases will fall but overall
proceeds will increase.
Revenue from Colorado Powerball tickets will go to the same
funds as the state lottery's current recipients: the Conservation
Trust Fund, State Parks and the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO)
Trust Fund.
Zamarripa said the Lottery Commission will spend $2.6 million to
modify computers for Powerball and market the new game. It already
has spent $1.4 million of that.
Pueblo District Judge Dennis Maes denied a preliminary
injunction sought by State Sen. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs,
to suspend Powerball while his lawsuit to keep the lottery out of
Colorado proceeds.
Colorado Lottery officials went to court
Friday to defend the state's participation in Powerball, saying
they will oversee ticket prices and drawings for the game.
Lamborn filed suit in June to block Colorado from joining the
multistate Powerball game. He said the way the game is supervised
and the way revenue is directed would violate the state
constitution.
Colorado Lottery officials say they will oversee ticket prices
and drawings for the game.
"We have the ultimate control of staying in or opting out,"
Colorado Lottery Commission Director Mark Zamarripa testified.
Lamborn was in New York and did not testify Friday.
Colorado Lottery attorney Maurice Knaizer said a ballot issue
last fall showed Coloradans approve of Powerball. "The public
interest, it seems to me at this point, is honoring the vote of the
people," he said.
The ruling will mean this Saturday's Powerball drawing will
proceed. Tickets went on sale Thursday morning, and by Friday, more
than 685,000 had been sold. The Saturday drawing, the first one
open to Colorado residents, has a $66 million jackpot.
Drawings are held in Des Moines, Iowa, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The largest-ever Colorado Lotto jackpot was $27 million in 1992.
Powerball opponents have said the game would hurt Colorado
Lottery ticket sales and the programs they support. Zamarripa said
he expects Colorado Lotto ticket purchases will fall but overall
proceeds will increase.
Revenue from Colorado Powerball tickets will go to the same
funds as the state lottery's current recipients: the Conservation
Trust Fund, State Parks and the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO)
Trust Fund.
Zamarripa said the Lottery Commission will spend $2.6 million to
modify computers for Powerball and market the new game. It already
has spent $1.4 million of that.
Previous Stories:
- August 3, 2001: Powerball Winner Tips: What To Do When You Win
- August 2, 2001: Powerball Tickets Selling 300 A Minute
- July 25, 2001: Powerball Lawsuit Moved To Pueblo
- July 20, 2001: Powerball To Start Aug 4, Officials Confirm
- July 19, 2001: Powerball Begins Aug. 4 In Colorado
Copyright 2002 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
