12:46 PM PST on Friday, February 17, 2006

Associated Press

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Washington's Lottery will not continue earlier plans to market itself to young adults after an order from Gov. Chris Gregoire, officials said.

Washington State Lottery

The lottery, which reports $13.7 million in annual sales to 18- to 20-year-olds, said in its 2005-2007 business plan that it planned to advertise to that age group.

But in a letter to the lottery's governing board, Gregoire told the agency to "not, in any way, market lottery products to youth."

The Democratic governor acknowledged the possibility of lost revenue by not encouraging young players, but wrote that she was willing to take that chance.

Gregoire wrote that marketing strategies targeted at young adults could also appeal to children younger than 18, possibly increasing "the likelihood of younger teenagers becoming involved in gambling at an age when they do not fully understand the risks involved."

Some House lawmakers tried unsuccessfully last week to ban the lottery from marketing to anyone younger than 21, but the attempt died along with a bill that raised the state's gambling age from 18 to 21 in non-tribal card rooms and mini-casinos.