Multistate lotteries Mega Millions and Powerball were in Austin Monday to woo state officials to join their games.
Representatives of both groups spent four hours pitching their product to the Texas Lottery Commission, which was recently given the authority by the Legislature to enter into a multistate game.
Powerball is a consortium of 25 individual lotteries.
Mega Millions is made up of 10 states.
The push to join a multistate lottery comes as the state's signature game -- Lotto Texas -- continues to suffer from depressed ticket sales.
Texas could decide not to join either game, although the Legislature wrote the 2004-2005 budget counting on the estimated $101 million that joining a multi-state game would bring.
Texas Lottery Executive Director Reagan Greer will study the proposals and could make a recommendation to the commission at its July 24 meeting.
Texans could soon purchase dollar tickets in both of the nation's largest multistate lottery jackpot games.
Powerball and Mega Millions lottery representatives made presentations to the Texas Lottery Commission on Monday with hopes of luring the state into their respective games. The state is exploring its options after Gov. Rick Perry signed a bill on June 10 authorizing Texas to become part of a multijurisdiction lottery.
Commissioners expressed interest in both organizations.
Powerball, which is played in 26 states, said their association has unofficially voted to accept an arrangement in which they are not the only game. Mega Millions, played in 10 states, hadn't yet discussed the matter.
Texas, which can legally be involved in more than one multistate lottery organization, would be the first state to offer both games if commissioners vote to do so.
C. Tom Clowe, chairman of the commission, said he hopes both associations agree to operate games in the same state.
"If it's feasible, we want to look at it," Clowe said. "We're only going to get to make this choice one time, so I want to look at all the options."
Powerball and Mega Millions have had the majority of the largest lottery jackpot winners in the United States. Powerball has an average grand prize of $51.8 million and Mega Million $40.5 million in their respective twice-weekly drawings.
There is no fee to join either group, but Texas would have to pay about $21,000 in shared operation costs to Mega Millions.
Currently, Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots start at $10 million. Players have a 1-in-120-million chance at winning the Powerball jackpot, while Mega Millions players have odds of 1 in 135 million.
Lottery officials are seeking public comment on the issue of multistate gaming. Commission Executive Director Reagan Greer said more than 2,200 e-mails had been received at the Texas Lottery Commission Web site, www.txlottery.org.
Only two public comments were made Monday at the hearing. Weston Ware, a spokesman for Texans Against Gambling, urged commissioners to consider the repercussions of adding another multimillion-dollar jackpot game to the state.
"I urge you to consider the fact that there are a lot of people in Texas addicted to buying tickets," he said. "We are selling hope through games like Mega Millions, Powerball and Lotto Texas."
The hearing was the only public forum scheduled before Greer makes his recommendation July 24. Public comments can be submitted through letters and e-mail through July 14.
