Lawmakers criticize lottery targeting teens

OLYMPIA – Lawmakers may derail the Lottery’s plan to pitch state-sponsored gambling to people under 21.

A state House committee recently exempted the Lottery and racetracks from legislation that would raise the legal gambling age from 18 to 21, the same as the drinking age. The latest version would apply to minicasinos and cardrooms.

In recent days, advocates of the legislation have distributed a new Lottery business plan that calls for marketing to younger players, including 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds.

The House Commerce Committee has attached an amendment to block that part of the marketing plan.

The Lottery defends youth-oriented marketing.

“As any prudent business, we need to look at the future and how to adapt our products to customer demand,” spokeswoman Jacque Coe told a Seattle newspaper.

Younger players are a key market the state intends to pursue, the marketing plan says, mentioning plans to create new games, including interactive Web-based games, and new technology such as mobile devices and PDAs.

Gambling opponents were furious.

“I was appalled that our own state government could so ruthlessly target teenage gamblers and view them as the gambling population of the future,” said Jennifer McCausland, head of an advocacy group that requested the higher minimum age for gambling.

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