If Michigan’s Government Shuts Down, The Lottery Goes With It

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Written By Derek Helling on September 28, 2019Last Updated on January 8, 2020
MIchigan government shutdown

Can you rewrite the sentence or provide more context?

Since the beginning of the fall session, the Michigan legislature has focused solely on devising a budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year. However, with the deadline fast approaching, there is a legitimate worry about a possible shutdown of the Michigan lottery.

In the event that the Wolverine State lacks a budget on Tuesday, various state government products and services, including the state’s lottery, may face suspension.

Why a Michigan lottery shutdown is possible now

In simple terms, when the state government ceases its operations, the lottery also comes to a halt, as it is deemed nonessential by the government.

In order to prevent a shutdown, it is necessary for the state government to pass a budget bill by October 1st. This requires the agreement of both chambers of the Michigan Legislature as well as Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

The governor and specific legislators have been in disagreement regarding issues such as education and road funding. If both parties remain firm in their positions until Monday, on Tuesday, nonessential activities like the lottery would come to a halt.

The impact of a shutdown would extend beyond the sales of scratch-off tickets at convenience stores, potentially leading to the closure of the online lottery in Michigan.

How a shutdown would affect the lottery in Michigan

Although potentially temporary, a shutdown would result in the suspension of all lottery operations within the state. This means that retail locations would cease selling tickets and/or redeeming winning tickets.

Furthermore, the online lottery operations in Michigan would come to a halt, depriving Michiganders of the ability to participate in lottery games online or claim any prizes. Additionally, lottery players would be unable to access their online accounts during this time.

The absence of a lottery in Michigan during the shutdown would create a scenario where the gaming industry in the Wolverine State could also be impacted by its extensive consequences.

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How a government shutdown could affect gambling

Rep. Brandt Iden and other lawmakers in Michigan have made significant efforts to broaden the scope of gambling, particularly by legalizing sports betting and online casino games.

It is absolutely impossible to engage in any activity on that front until the budget is addressed. Furthermore, no other legislative action will be pursued until a budget is established.

As a result, the progress of Iden or a fellow member in the Michigan Senate towards gambling expansion might be delayed. Any setback in the legislative procedure consequently leads to a postponement in the implementation of legalized sports betting and online gambling.

However, the operations of both commercial casinos in Detroit and tribal casinos in the state should remain unaffected by a government shutdown.

Why casinos in Michigan will operate the same regardless

Although Lansing is responsible for regulating commercial and tribal casinos in Michigan, it is important to note that these casinos are privately owned and operated. Hence, their functioning and operations are independent of the state government’s operation.

During a shutdown, there is a possibility of a delay in the state’s collection of gambling taxes, however, these funds would still be required to be paid once operations in Lansing resume at full capacity. It should be noted that a shutdown would not lead to any improvements in the odds of winning on slot machines.

The best hope for lottery enthusiasts in Michigan is if Lansing manages to come up with a budget before Tuesday, as it would cause the entire situation to fade away.

Could you please paraphrase this sentence for me?

Can you please rewrite the following sentence for me? <br><br>Original sentence: “I am going to the store to buy some groceries.”

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