More Lottery Woes

WWAY TV 3 Potential bidders worry about fairness of N.C. lottery contracts Dec 21, 2005, 09:10 AM EST RALEIGH (AP) -- Companies interested in helping run North Carolina's lottery games are concerned that specifications for one important contract are written in a way that allows just one bidder. The request for bids specifies that whoever wins the scratch-off ticket contract must handle printing, warehousing, distribution and marketing of tickets for the lottery. Georgia-based Scientific Games is the only company that does all those functions on its own. Other companies interested in the contract must team up to make a bid. But in recent, similar cases, Scientific Games has come up the winner. Other states with established lotteries have sought bids solely on printing, while putting warehousing and distribution into other contracts or separate contracts. Officials at Scientific Games declined to comment Tuesday. The company is under investigation for possibly violating lobbying laws as the General Assembly considered whether to approve a lottery this year. (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) One good thing about Scientific Games is that the paper stock they use to make the tickets is made right here in Columbus County. The Riegelwood IP paper mill also makes lottery stock for a few other companies, but I'll have to check and see if they are in the running for the contract.