Pursuant to House Resolution No. 15, which directed the House General Laws Committee to conduct a study on the desirability of establishing a State lottery, Chairman Thomas W. Moss, Jr. appointed a Subcommittee to undertake this study. Ira M. Lechner, Arlington, was appointed Chairman of the Subcommittee. Other members serving on the Subcommittee were Warren E. Barry, Fairfax, Kenneth B. Rollins, Loudoun, and Thomas J. Rothrock, Fairfax.

Public hearings were held in Richmond, Roanoke, Norfolk and Alexandria for the purpose of receiving testimony. Private citizens, State legislators, lottery consulting firms and various civic organizations spoke to the Subcommittee. Staff assistance was provided by the Division of Legislative Services. The Subcommittee also received valuable research from Robert Griffis, State Planning and Community Affairs. A summary of Mr. Griffis' data is appended hereto. (See Appendix I)

Lotteries have been associated with the United States since the Virginia Company in London held a lottery to finance its colony in Jamestown. All of the original colonies used lotteries to finance public works projects, institutions of higher education and the militia. During the late 1890's, these privately-operated lotteries were affected by a wave of corruption and states eventually prohibited them. In 1964 New Hampshire began a well-run, tightly regulated lottery for the benefit of school districts. Since that time, twelve other states have passed lottery legislation. New York, New Jersey, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and New Hampshire are operating lotteries; Delaware's is about to become operational.