Steer Clear of Sport Lotteries, Vincent Warns

Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent has warned jurisdictions seeking major league expansion franchises to stay away from sports lotteries, igniting a controversy whose effects may be felt well beyond Washington.

As District Councilman Frank Smith Jr., chairman of the D.C. Baseball Commission, put in writing his opposition to the proposed betting game, Lottery Board Chairman Carolyn B. Lewis said the board has not considered including baseball in the Sports Pool Lottery it recently gave preliminary approval.

Meantime, Rep. John Bryant (D-Tex.) said he would introduce a bill this week that would prohibit state-run sports-betting enterprises.

The developments came a day after Vincent said, “Jurisdictions which engage in sports betting and which are also seeking expansion franchises should be warned that, at least, I will tend to consider those two things together.”

Last week, the Lottery Board approved the rules for a game that would allow legal gambling in the District of Columbia on professional football, baseball, basketball and hockey. The game, which still must receive formal approval from the District’s Office of the Corporation Counsel and final approval from the lottery board, likely would begin in September when the National Football League regular season opens.

But Lewis said that since the Lottery Board began considering the Sports Pool Lottery in 1987, football is the only sport that has been discussed for the game.

Baseball “has not ever been under consideration,” Lewis said.

Asked if she would support any kind of sports lottery if she knew it could adversely affect Washington’s chances of being awarded a baseball franchise, Lewis said the Lottery Board has yet to make a final decision.

That decision will not come until at least the completion of a 30-day period for public comment.

In a letter to Lottery Board Executive Director Lorraine Greene, Smith requested “that the Lottery Board not consider creating a sports-betting lottery system at this time.

“A sports betting lottery would . . . give Major League Baseball an avenue by which they can deny Washington, D.C., a baseball team,” wrote Smith, who Tuesday raised the possibility of council action against a sports lottery.