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Critics say new lottery game too similar to 8-liners

By Ray Gomez

A new proposed game from the Texas Lottery is being compared to playing slot machines.

The Lottery Commission in Austin is expecting to vote on an instant ticket lotto game when they meet in the state capitol next month.

Not everyone is in support of the move.

Critics of the EZ Match game compare it to allowing 8-liners.

Jarratt Watkins wants to put a stop to practices that lead to predatory gambling:

"Our concern is that with slot machines being the most predatory form of gambling, i.e., they take 80 percent of their money from 20 percent of the players, we feel this is a dangerously predatory product that will only negatively impact the state of Texas."

Bobby Heith with the Texas Lottery Commission:

"It will now go before the commission. We do have a commission meeting scheduled for October second, however we do not have an agenda posted yet for that meeting yet, so it may or may not -- it would be pure speculation on my part whether or not they take it up on that agenda, and also speculation as to what action they may take during that meeting."

The proposed game would involve players giving their money to retail clerk, who would provide an instant win-or-lose ticket printed by a lottery terminal.

Under the plan the money raised would then end up in state coffers linked to education.

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