Legislator: Ban Lottery Money From Politics

State Rep. Brandon Neuman, D-North Strabane, will introduce legislation to ban any company running the Pennsylvania Lottery from making campaign contributions to elected officials and political candidates in Pennsylvania.

Neuman will introduce the legislation in response to Gov. Tom Corbett's recent decision to award a 20-year contract to British-based Camelot Global Services PA LLC to outsource the management of the Pennsylvania Lottery.

"The state has prohibited the casino industry from making campaign contributions, but there’s nothing in the contract signed by the governor that stops Camelot or its executives from making donations to political candidates," Neuman said. "We don’t allow the gaming industry to influence elections for good reason and the same standard should apply to the lottery."

Neuman said he would prefer for the state to continue managing the lottery, but said if the deal with Camelot is completed, then the same prohibitions on campaign contributions that apply to the casinos industry should apply to the lottery.

"Camelot stands to make $1.7 billion over the life of the contract that was negotiated before a legislative hearing could be held to get the facts," the legislator said.

He continued: "Camelot intends to expand gaming which I believe will require legislative approval. My bill would ensure those decisions remain focused on the best interests of seniors and the state programs that serve them and the process is free from the influence of campaign contributions."

The state’s gaming law bans donations of money or in-kind contributions to any candidate or campaign committee by companies operating casinos in the state, or any affiliated businesses.