Six states have introduced legislation regarding the sale of lottery tickets over the internet. Minnesota acted to suspend the sale of certain lottery tickets via the internet, and Kentucky has introduced similar legislation. North Carolina introduced legislation to limit the games offered by the lottery to only draw-style and scratch-off games, effectively prohibiting the sale of tickets over the Internet without receiving legislative approval.
On the other end of the spectrum, Massachusetts and Virginia introduced legislation to allow the sale of lottery tickets over the Internet. Massachusetts’ bill is still pending, but Virginia’s bill ultimately failed. Finally, Illinois introduced a bill that would make their Internet sales pilot program a permanent program.
Below is a table of bills related to lottery sales over the Internet, along with any information on the bill’s final disposition.
Please note that this document only addresses the online sale of lottery tickets. Online casino gambling legislation, including online poker legislation, is available here.
Online Lottery Legislation
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Jurisdiction
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Bill
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Summary
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Illinois
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HB 3870
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Amends the Lottery Law; makes the Internet pilot program, which allows the sale of lottery tickets over the Internet, a permanent program.
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Kentucky
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SB 134
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Relates to lottery games; prohibits Internet-based lottery games or tickets from being purchased on-line by credit card; requires payment for Internet-based games to be made by a prepaid lottery game card that may be purchased from lottery retailers.
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Massachusetts
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HB 29
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Relates to Lottery pilot projects.
Would allow the Massachusetts Lottery Commission to offer lottery games over the Internet.
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| Massachusetts |
SB 151 |
Relates to lottery online products. |
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Minnesota
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HB 51
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Relates to the State Lottery; suspends sale of certain lottery tickets through a Web site or self‑service device.
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|
Minnesota
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SB 188
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Relates to the State Lottery; suspends sale of certain lottery tickets through a Web site or self‑service device.
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Minnesota
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SB 229 - Enacted 5/19/2015
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Relates to gambling; makes clarifying, conforming, and technical changes relating to lawful gambling; modifies games, prizes, and other provisions regulating the conduct of lawful gambling; prohibits director of State Lottery from offering casino‑style games; suspends the sale of certain tickets of the State Lottery through a Web site or self‑service devices.
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North Carolina
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HB 109
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Provides for honesty in advertising and marketing of the state lottery.
Prohibits the North Carolina Lottery Commission from offering any lottery game other than draw-style games and instant scratch-off games without legislative approval.
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Virginia
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SB 705; Failed – 1/19/2015
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Relates to Virginia Lottery; relates to sale of lottery tickets over Internet; repeals the prohibition against the sale of lottery tickets over the Internet.
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Jonathan Griffin covers lottery issues for NCSL.