The Nation : Louisiana Lottery Sought

Louisiana Gov. Edwin W. Edwards said that he would call the Legislature into special session Feb. 2-12 to consider a lottery for the state and casino gambling for metropolitan New Orleans as a way to offset “dreaded cuts” in services to education, the elderly and needy. A lottery should bring in $150 million the first year and increase to $250 million within a few years, he said. Casino gambling would create 100,000 new jobs and pump $2 billion a year into the metropolitan area, he said. The governor himself is a familiar figure at Nevada casinos, where federal prosecutors said he lost about $2 million between 1981 and 1984--losses they cited as a motive for an alleged crooked business deal. Edwards’ recent trial on federal racketeering charges stemming from the venture ended in a hung jury.