Policy Position

of the Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Inc.

AAA’s on GAMBLING

For the last thirty years, the Pennsylvania Lottery has provided funds to programs for Pennsylvania’s seniors.  With increasing numbers of seniors to serve, declining Lottery revenues, and increased costs to operate Lottery-funded programs, profits are not adequate to support these programs. 

Recognizing this, the Lottery’s enrollment in the national Powerball game in 2002 is projected to bring up to $100 million in new annual revenues to the Lottery.  Despite this effort, lack of legislative initiatives to create savings for the PACE program, and proposals to expand legalized gambling, cause concern for the solvency of the Lottery.  In order for Pennsylvania to capitalize upon these opportunities to generate new income for the State budget, PAAAA supports: 

þ     Enhanced and increased efforts to market and merchandise the Pennsylvania Lottery games.

þ     Heightened efforts to collect all revenues owed to the Lottery from retailers, on a continuous basis.

þ     Expanded gambling licensure when:

1.      Conditions are placed on new gambling revenue streams to hold harmless and make whole any negative impact on the current revenue levels of the Pennsylvania Lottery.

2.      Pennsylvania seniors would benefit from any expanded gambling licensure by either maintaining or expanding current Lottery-funded initiatives.