Court Opinion

ID: 9545029
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 17:04:51.919002+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:13:54.347215
License: Public Domain

ON PETITIONS FOR REHEARING
McFADDEN and SMITH, Justices.
Examination of the respective petitions for rehearing submitted by respondent and amicus curiae reveal that the questions presented have been fully considered by this Court in rendering its initial opinion.
Assuming, but not deciding, that amicus curiae are entitled to submit a petition for rehearing, it again must be pointed out that the legislature having acted on a matter of public policy has seen fit to adopt the present “Idaho Horse Racing Act.” Idaho Const. Art. 3, § 20 prohibits the legislature from authorizing “any lottery or gift enterprise”. While the wagering authorized by such Act may constitute a form of gambling, nevertheless the Constitution does not pro*374hibit gambling unless it is in fact a lottery or gift enterprise.
Amicus curiae contend, however, that such Act is also in contravention of Idaho Const. Art. 3, § 24. That section of the Constitution is a declaration of policy which admonishes the legislature to “further all wise and well directed efforts for the promotion of temperance and morality.” The legislature having acted in this area on a' matter of public policy, the only question remaining for determination by the Court was whether the Act contravened Idaho Const. Art. 3, § 20, and we continue to adhere to our original opinion, that it does not.
Respondent would have this Court adopt the rule that a determination as to whether a particular scheme of wagering constitutes a lottery, should be based on whether the element of skill predominates over the element of chance. It is our conclusion that the persuasive weight of authority rejects that rationale of decision.
We have by the original opinion concluded that “lottery” as used in our Constitution applies only to distributions of money or things of value by chance, and in which process of distribution the element of skill plays no part. If skill plays any part in determining the distribution there is no lottery as prohibited by our Constitution. In any particular game where skill is in fact an element, the questions of whether skill predominates over chance in determination of the result, and whether any game in which skill may or may not predominate is to be prohibited, must be decided by the legislature under its inherent and delegated powers as the law making body.
Petitions for rehearing are denied.
KNUDSON, C. J., and McQUADE, J., concur.
TAYLOR, J., dissents.