Wright calls for gambling probe
Lottery asked to look at Quick Draw
ALBANY - State Sen. James W. Wright has asked the state Division of the Lottery to look into allegations related to a Quick Draw scandal involving millions of dollars taken from supermodel Maggie Rizer, a 1996 Watertown High School graduate, to fund her stepfather's gambling addiction.
"First of all, there's no denying what has occurred there in the north country in Watertown in this specific case, which also involves other factors over and above gambling," the Watertown Republican said. "Having said that, we have an obligation to take a look at the details of the case and review those with the (Lottery Division), which is in fact what I'm already doing."
Mr. Wright was referring to the case of John R. Breen Jr., who from summer 1999 until late 2002 pirated from his stepdaughter's financial accounts as much as $7 million so he could play Quick Draw, the Lottery's Keno-style video game. Mr. Breen played at several taverns, but mostly at the Speak Easy, owned by his longtime friend Watertown Mayor Jeffrey E. Graham; Kegler's Lounge; and the Rusted Route Bar & Grill, just outside Watertown.
Before considering any legislative action resulting from the case, however, Mr. Wright said he wanted to determine how much of what happened has been an exception with Quick Draw since the Lottery first introduced the controversial game in October 1996.
"Frankly, the part that concerns me the most is the implication that there's credit being given to gamble," Mr. Wright said. That was one of many allegations included in several stories that appeared Sunday in the Watertown Daily Times after a four-month investigation by members of the newspaper's staff. "That certainly was not anyone's intent when Quick Draw was established. So I think there are legitimate issues that have to be looked at and they have to be looked at in a broader context."
The initial decision to introduce the game was greeted with a tremendous amount of criticism. The game was considered highly addictive because of its fast-paced play and has often been referred to as "video crack."
The state Legislature has not approved making Quick Draw a permanent part of the Lottery Division's collection of games but has authorized extensions of the game several times. Gov. George E. Pataki, in his most recent budget plan, included a proposal to make the game permanent.
Mr. Wright, who admits he has never had "any real enthusiasm" for using gambling revenue to ease the state's budget troubles, said he remains undecided as to whether he will try to stop the game from becoming permanent. Authorization to operate Quick Draw ends May 31.
"We have to look at it in greater detail if, in fact, there are changes because of what occurred in Watertown," he said. "We have to look at how those changes affect the program and whether we should make the program permanent or keep it temporary while we assess those changes. It certainly raises issues."
Other issues that would come into play are the rights of the retailers who have contracts with the state to offer the game - and earn 6 percent of whatever the games take in at their businesses - and how to make up for lost revenue if a decision were made to end the game entirely, Mr. Wright said.
"I'm more interested in taking a measured approach and looking at things in great detail and not predetermining anything," he said.
Since Quick Draw's inception, it has had sales of more than $4.5 billion with more than $1.4 billion of that going toward aid to education and more than $270 million going to retailers as commission. In the current fiscal year, the game had pulled in $315 million in sales as of January with more than $103 million going for aid to education.
In addition to making the game permanent, the Lottery Division also has recommended easing restrictions on the game, such as increasing the number of hours during which it can be played.