Union Criticizes Casino Business Over Rejection of Nevada Lottery, Intended for Financing Mental Health Aid for Young People
Union of Culinary Workers in Nevada's Hospitality Industry Criticizes Nevada Resorts Association for Opposition to State Lottery
On Tuesday, the Culinary Union, representing over 60,000 Nevada hospitality workers, criticized the Nevada Resorts Association (NRA) for its persistent opposition to the legalization of a state lottery.
The criticism comes following The Nevada Independent's report on the NRA's stance, as revealed in an article about the gaming industry's political contributions.
Last month, the union endorsed Assemblymember Cameron “CH” Miller's proposal to establish a state lottery aimed at funding youth mental health services.
Nevada, renowned for its numerous casino resorts, is one of just five states without a state lottery. The prohibition could be lifted with the passage of a constitutional amendment.
Valentine, the NRA President, was quoted in the article, stating that a potential lottery plan should consider the economic and financial impact on businesses.
‘Very Disappointing’
Secretary/Treasurer of the Culinary Union, Ted Pappageorge, described it as "very disappointing" that the trade association representing Nevada's major industry is content with Nevada ranking last in youth mental health and near the bottom in education.
Pappageorge urged the NRA to work towards the betterment of the community and reiterated the union's long-standing advocacy for working families.
He said, “We’ve taken on big pharma to win transparency on diabetes and asthma drugs and fought for over 25 years to end surprise medical bills for all Nevadans. This year is no different. We continue to vigorously advocate for Culinary Union members and Nevadans to have quality healthcare and stable neighborhoods."
The NRA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday evening.
Miller’s proposal is a constitutional amendment, requiring a popular vote to ratify it, if it passes the state legislature. In 1990, a constitutional amendment was passed to allow lotteries for charitable gaming purposes.
Efforts to establish a state lottery have been made in the past. However, this proposal is backed by one of Nevada's most influential and active political groups. Before the last election, Culinary Union members canvassed over a million doors statewide.
Focus on Mental Health Rising
With the COVID-19 pandemic, more focus has been placed on mental health issues. The Culinary Union refers to a World Health Organization study showing a 25% increase in anxiety and depression cases during the first year of the health crisis.
More recently, a survey by the Pew Research Center found that 40% of American parents are either extremely or very concerned about their children dealing with anxiety or depression. This is compared to 23% who worry about their kids facing drug or alcohol issues, and 22% concerned about gun violence.
Given these statistics, the union believes Nevada needs a consistent, long-term funding source to address the mental health needs of children and adolescents.
The union did not provide an estimate of the revenue Nevada is losing due to not having a lottery.
Nevada, with a population of nearly 3.2 million, ranks 32nd among the most populous states in the U.S. Iowa, with a population of 3.1 million, reported its lottery generated nearly $98 million in revenue for the state during the 2021-22 fiscal year. Arkansas, with a population of about 3 million, used its lottery to generate $99.7 million for its scholarship fund.
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