Illinois to become first state to allow online lottery sales

Mar 23, 2012, 12:36 pm (38 comments)

Illinois Lottery

CHICAGO, Ill. — A Justice Department opinion issued last year cleared the way. It said the Wire Act of 1961, which bars wagering over telecommunication systems across state or national boundaries, applies only to sports betting.

At least 21 states and the District of Columbia are considering online lottery sales or other wagering such as poker, says Frank Fahrenkopf, president of the American Gaming Association, which represents commercial casinos.

New York and several other states sell lottery subscriptions to residents online but not individual tickets.

The flurry of interest spells trouble for gambling addicts and young people, says Anita Bedell of Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems. "It's going to open a whole Pandora's box nationwide," she says.

Fahrenkopf hopes Congress will set standards to protect online customers from fraud and ensure they are adults.

Jeff Lenard of the National Association of Convenience Stores says it has "significant concerns" about the economic effect on stores that sell lottery tickets.

Illinois Lottery Superintendent Michael Jones says online sales could attract 1 million new players when Mega Millions payouts exceed $100 million, increasing proceeds that go to public education. Only 9%-12% of Illinois adults play now, he says.

Starting at 7 a.m. CT Sunday, visitors to illinoislottery.com will be asked to register and enter credit card and Social Security numbers, date of birth, name and address. Sophisticated software should ensure that only Illinois residents 18 and older play, Jones says. Purchases will be limited to $100 a day. At first, only Mega Millions and Lotto games will be offered.

The federal ruling "was a gift of potentially hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of jobs to any state that wants to do this," says I. Nelson Rose, a Whittier Law School professor who blogs at gamblingandthelaw.com. "In less than 10 years, we're going to see most of the states moving to Internet gambling."

In Maine this week, a Senate committee approved a bill that would make online lottery sales illegal but could reconsider. "We're moving cautiously," Republican Sen. Debra Plowman says, "and we'll be watching Illinois."

Thanks to petergrfn for the tip.

USA Today

Comments

zinniagirl's avatarzinniagirl

hmmm, if you win using one of these "online subscriptions", Will they automatically announce your name as the winner?

Littleoldlady's avatarLittleoldlady

Its a bout time the US embraced technology that other countries have been profiting from for years.  If each state was to have online ticket sales, some of the dollars flowing out of this country might decrease.  Just my thoughts.

Cletu$2's avatarCletu$2

Quote: Originally posted by Littleoldlady on Mar 23, 2012

Its a bout time the US embraced technology that other countries have been profiting from for years.  If each state was to have online ticket sales, some of the dollars flowing out of this country might decrease.  Just my thoughts.

With all of the crooks in the Illinois government,I'd be leery of using my credit card online.

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

The UCCA is gonna have a conniption fit about this.

This will have immediate and adverse effects on their income and livelihood.

Yes, I'm predicting mass protests by the United Crooked Clerks of America.

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by zinniagirl on Mar 23, 2012

hmmm, if you win using one of these "online subscriptions", Will they automatically announce your name as the winner?

This is an excellent point, not often mentioned in the press.

Unlike traditional lottery tickets purchased at a store, for online purchases the lottery will know EXACTLY WHO WON as soon as the winning numbers are announced.

This is both good and bad.  It's good because you don't have to worry about losing your lottery ticket.  But it's bad, because claiming the winning ticket anonymously will be tricky or impossible.

Hmmm...

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

the only way i'm giving the lottery my ss# is when i'm collecting a big win.

RedStang's avatarRedStang

Here they release your name at the news conference. The winning ticket location is released rightaway because its public information. We just had a subscription winner.

C0w Pi3

Wait so since they'd know who won wouldn't they already have your bank info too? In which case then the money be deposited in the 2 weeks or whatever without having to show your face?

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Quote: Originally posted by C0w Pi3 on Mar 23, 2012

Wait so since they'd know who won wouldn't they already have your bank info too? In which case then the money be deposited in the 2 weeks or whatever without having to show your face?

If they allowed that (which they should), they'd probably release your Drivers License photo at the very least.

Government always has to do something to make your life miserable. It's their job.

liberal47's avatarliberal47

It is about time. No more putting up with clerks who don't know what they are doing, or are irritated that they have to print the tickets. Opponents of this are missing the fact that a true addict will find a way to feed his habit no matter what. Limiting sales online to $100 a day is a sufficient speed bump for 98% of us and I know I wouldn't come anywhere near that. It is irritating to have to return to the store to just buy tickets at the last minute if you have forgotten to do it while you were out. I salute Illinois and I hope Michigan is watching!

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Quote: Originally posted by liberal47 on Mar 23, 2012

It is about time. No more putting up with clerks who don't know what they are doing, or are irritated that they have to print the tickets. Opponents of this are missing the fact that a true addict will find a way to feed his habit no matter what. Limiting sales online to $100 a day is a sufficient speed bump for 98% of us and I know I wouldn't come anywhere near that. It is irritating to have to return to the store to just buy tickets at the last minute if you have forgotten to do it while you were out. I salute Illinois and I hope Michigan is watching!

"I salute Illinois..."

I don't know if anybody is there to receive your salute in Illinois.

You might have to wait for all the Governors to get out of prison.

Cletu$2's avatarCletu$2

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Mar 23, 2012

"I salute Illinois..."

I don't know if anybody is there to receive your salute in Illinois.

You might have to wait for all the Governors to get out of prison.

My point,exactly!Illinois government is rife with corruption from the govenor on down.I won't be crossing the river to play online or at a brick & mortar store.Then,too,there is that bankruptcy thing going on with Illinois.

VenomV12

This is a great idea. I am assuming that you can play the Illinois Lottery online even if you don't live there?

If I won millions of dollars I could care less if they announced my name. Like I said before if that is your major concern then just don't play the lottery, problem solved. 

I can't speak for the rest of Illinois, but Chicago and the surrounding suburbs are very nice places to be and live in.

maximumfun's avatarmaximumfun

Wouldn't it be nice if there were identify-protection-vehicles that could be put into place prior to purchasing online ("Hey kids!  for 99$ & a 50$ annual renewal, you too can have an anonymous trust formed for the express purpose of collecting your lottery wins... be sure you ask your parents for one today!")

It would be pricy for the casual player, but for those who are in it for the long haul ("in it to win it") and play more than the ... 2 lines per game that I play ... it would be just a cost of doing business... 

That way all the verification rigamaroll could be done in advance... the lottery could approve which "vehicles" it approved, and those who want anonymity would simply have to plan ahead, other wise, there could be a nice lil example of what would be released posted in a FAQ type section.

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