Lottery online
Comments (...)Imagine being able to buy a lottery ticket from the comfort of your desk chair.
That fantasy could become a reality by the end of March, if officials at the Illinois Lottery have their way.
The issue was raised when the Illinois General Assembly approved the plan in 2009 for an Internet pilot program for the lottery, a founding source for the state’s capital construction program. According to the legislation, the General Assembly found the “Consumer market in Illinois has changed since the creation of the Illinois State Lottery in 1974; the Internet has become an integral part of everyday life for a significant number of Illinois residents not only in regards to their professional life, but also in regards to personal business and communication; and the current practices of selling lottery tickets does not appeal to the new form of market participants who prefer to make purchases on the Internet at their own convenience.”
“The issue here is very simple,” said Michael Jones, the superintendent of the lottery. “All the state Legislature wanted to do was to have the lottery mirror people’s buying habits with the kind of retail channel everybody uses to buy plane tickets, books and concert tickets.”
The plan was put on hold until the U.S. Department of Justice finally took action in late December to allow for Internet lottery ticket sales. Federal authorities said the 1961 Wire Act, which had been considered to prohibit all Internet gambling, actually only prohibited betting on sports.
The plan calls for tickets for Lotto and Mega Millions to be available online, and Powerball might soon join the list.
Tickets would be available only to Illinois residents 18 or older, and would be paid for by credit or debit card. The amount of money a player can spend a one time will be limited, but the exact amount hasn’t been determined.
Estimates of how much additional revenue could be raised through the program vary, but some officials believe it could be as much as $100 million.
There has been some resistance to the online sales.
Bill Fleischli of the Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association and the Illinois Association of Convenience Stores said online sales could result in fewer customers in convenience stores, which could lead stores to lay off workers.
“(You) know at the end of the day, we could possibly see this being a 7,000 job decrease in the
state of Illinois,” said Joe Rossi, president of the 7-Eleven Franchise Owners Association of Chicago of the Chicago area.
Rossi estimated lottery sales bring in 30 percent of the business at 7-Elevens in the state because lottery buyers buy an average of $5 in goods on top of their tickets.
But at least one area businessman isn’t too concerned.
Bill Smith, president of Beck Oil Co. in Princeton, said his company has not joined the protests against online gambling.
“Over time it may cause sales to be a bit soft or go down,” he said. “But for right now, it’s not that big an issue.”
Smith said he’s been surprised at how well sales have held up even with all the problems with the economy.
One regular boost to sales comes every Christmas because people like to give lottery tickets as stocking stuffers.
Smith said buying lottery tickets online wouldn’t give people the same pleasure as buying one in person.
“People like to come in, buy a ticket, and stand in the store and scratch it off,” he said. “Buying online would not be the same.”
Smith also took a practical view of protesting online sales.
“If they decide to do it, we’re not going to change their minds,” he said.
Comment on this story at www.bcrnews.com.
Comments
Total Comments 0 View/Add Comments |
There have been no comments made about this story. |
