The State Lottery Commission could choose a private vendor to run the Hoosier Lottery at a public meeting Wednesday.
The Lottery Commission requested bids from private vendors in May. When the bidding period closed at the end of August, two of four companies that submitted proposals remained in the running.
In a statement, lottery executive director Karl Browning said the commission wanted to test the market to determine if a private company could maximize revenues for the lottery in ways the state could not. But Browning stressed that if the commission wasn't satisfied with the bids, they could decide not to privatize at all.
Lottery officials declined to be interviewed prior to Wednesday's meeting. Indiana House Democrats have criticized the effort, charging that privatization of the lottery will not be fiscally helpful in the long run and will lead to cuts in services and rising fees.