Permitting dedicated lottery tickets for special interests

SB 494 creates four new lottery scratch-off games in West Virginia, each dedicated to funding specific public services: fire departments, emergency medical services, schools, and roads. Profits from each game will be directed to designated state funds (e.g., fire department profits to the All County Fire Protection Fund) and must be clearly labeled on the tickets. The Lottery Commission must update game designs regularly to stay competitive with other lottery offerings. The bill takes effect September 1, 2026, and requires all proceeds to directly support the named services.