DC Lottery Tickets Running Out as Contract Debacle Continues

With no new lottery vendor on the horizon, Washington DC is losing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Lottery fans are caught in the middle of a contract controversy, as Washington DC is running out of $1 and $5 scratch-off tickets. According to the latest gambling news, it could be months before the issue is solved. Meanwhile, the city is losing important funds destined for public services.

The city’s contract with the last lottery ticket provider expired five months ago and officials have rejected all offers brought forward since then. According to the Washington Post, the most recent solicitation for a new lottery vendor was cancelled on grounds of the price being too high.

Political sabotage?

The lottery contract debacle has caused instant-ticket sales to drop by more than 10% compared to the previous year, with the city losing between $200,000 and $300,000.

The government has already rejected two offers, which raised suspicion of political sabotage. In a letter addressed to city officials, chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce Barbara Lang inquired whether the decision had anything to do with the fact that the bidder was a certified business enterprise.

“I hope that’s not what is happening, but on the surface, that’s what it sounds like. It’s almost like we’re trying to reconfigure this thing to work for a certain vendor,” she said.

The Washington Lottery is run by the government and it includes games such as Mega Millions, Keno or Hit 5, as well as scratch cards. According to American gambling laws, games can only be drawn once a day.