Prieto: Lack of Bids Renews Concern over Lottery Privatization Scheme

(TRENTON) – Assembly Budget Committee Chair Vincent Prieto (D-Bergen/Hudson) on Friday expressed renewed concern over the Christie administration’s plans to privatize the New Jersey Lottery, particularly in light of the lack of competitive bids submitted.

“Privatization should be reserved for when the government cannot perform that function well on its own. In the case of our award-winning lottery system, we have one of the most efficient operations in the world. 

 “For a plan that was troubling from the start, the fact that only one bid was submitted in response to a request for proposals only increases my concern.  This casts further doubt on whether this is a smart move.  How do we know we are getting the best deal if we have nothing to compare it to? 

"When we held a recent hearing on the proposal, the Treasury Department declined to attend because they said they could not speak publicly about the matter during the RFP process.  Well that process has since concluded and the results are troubling.  More details are now warranted,” said Prieto.