Judge asked to block New York's entry into multistate lottery

ALBANY, N.Y. - An anti-gambling coalition has asked a judge to stop the state from entering a multistate lottery game. <br> <br> The state Lottery Division has announced plans to join eight other states starting May 17 in the ``Mega Millions&#39;&#39; game. It would be a successor to the popular ``Big Game,&#39;&#39; which created a stir with a $331 million jackpot on April 16. <br> <br> But anti-gambling forces asked state Supreme Court Justice Joseph Teresi Tuesday to issue a preliminary injunction blocking the state from participating in Mega Millions pending the outcome of another suit the group filed. <br> <br> That court action challenges as unconstitutional the October 2001 law authorizing the state to enter a multistate lottery game, as well as providing for up to six new Indian-run casinos and for the placement of video slot-like machines at horse racing tracks. <br> <br> The filing of the preliminary injunction was first reported Wednesday by the Buffalo News. <br> <br> Carolyn Hapeman, a spokeswoman for the state Lottery Division, said ``we&#39;re confident the legislation will withstand&#39;&#39; the court challenge. <br> <br> Cornelius Murray, an Albany lawyer representing the anti-gambling coalition, said New York is barred in at least two ways by the state constitution from getting into Mega Millions. <br> <br> ``It&#39;s diverting money that would essentially be used to advance causes in other jurisdictions and it would not be operated by the state,&#39;&#39; Murray said. <br> <br> Mega Millions, like the Big Game, will be run from Atlanta. Murray contends the state constitution prohibits any state lottery game from benefitting an out-of-state concern. <br> <br> Other states in the game are Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio and Virginia. <br> <br> The anti-gaming coalition includes the head of the Saratoga Springs Chamber of Commerce, Republican Sen. Frank Padavan of Queens, Democratic state Assemblyman William Parment of Chautauqua County and religious leaders.