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Eastern Time (GMT-5:00) | Illinois Lottery hopes to sell tickets online in '3 to 4 months' Illinois Lottery: Illinois Lottery hopes to sell tickets online in '3 to 4 months'52 Rating:SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Lottery Superintendent Michael Jones said Monday that he hopes the state will begin selling lottery tickets online in the next three to four months. Officials have long wanted to take the lottery to the web, and the path was cleared Friday with the release of a U.S. Department of Justice legal opinion that supports state-regulated online gambling. (See Ruling by Justice Dept. opens a door on online gambling, Lottery Post, Dec. 25, 2011.) State lawmakers in 2009 approved a massive road and bridge construction program that included possibly selling lottery tickets online to help pay for it. But while Illinois officials opined that it was already legal to do so, they were waiting for the go-ahead from the federal government. Now, Jones says their opinion has been "vindicated." He said a meeting about how to proceed will come in the next 10 days, with lottery tickets available for sale online shortly after. "I'm going to insist on three to four months," he said. If Illinois starts selling online tickets soon, it would be the first state to do so. Jones said officials will now work on how to offer the tickets on a secure website, ensure buyers are over age 18 and are Illinoisans. At first, Jones said, they'll shoot to offer the Lotto, Mega Millions and Powerball games online. The possibility for the state to offer lottery tickets on the web comes because of a memo the Department of Justice made public before the holiday weekend that said state-regulated online gambling — except for sports betting — could be legalized. The idea will surely spark the ire of gambling opponents, who fought the sale of lottery tickets online from the beginning, arguing the increased accessibility of gambling could lead to addiction problems. The push to get tickets online, as well as the move to have a private company manage the Illinois Lottery, was part of a plan to increase the games' profit margin. In recent years, annual lottery sales have topped $2 billion, but haven't risen sharply between years. Only time will tell how much more in sales the Internet could generate. Jones says he thinks online sales will mostly pick up when jackpots get above $100 million. "That's when everybody gets interested," he said. Also part of the state's big construction plan was the legalization of video gambling machines in Illinois bars, an idea that hasn't become reality yet as regulators continue to iron out the details. And the effort to put slot machines at Arlington Park and new casinos in Lake County, Chicago and other areas remains on hold as lawmakers and Gov. Pat Quinn continue to quibble over the terms of further gambling expansion. Daily Herald We'd love to see your comments here! Register for a FREE membership — it takes just a few moments — and you'll be able to post comments here and on any of our forums. If you're already a member, you can Log In to post a comment. 52 comments. Last comment 1 year ago by . PA United States Member #66644 October 16, 2008 1280 Posts Offline | | Posted: December 26, 2011, 11:20 pm - IP Logged | |
Illinois ............... center of Thuggery !  | | |
Boryspil/Kyiv Ukraine Member #88820 March 23, 2010 55 Posts Offline | | Posted: December 26, 2011, 11:28 pm - IP Logged | |
Illinois ............... center of Thuggery ! Al Capone would play online   | | |
Hard Luck, Ak United States Member #23813 October 13, 2005 232 Posts Offline | | Posted: December 27, 2011, 1:30 am - IP Logged | |
I thought that Illinois offers a subsription service to Illinois players??? What is the advantage of offerring an online lottery service only to Illinois residents when a person can just go down the street to a convience store and pick up their own ticket??? Just doesn't make sense to me unless it was offered to anyone over 18 anywhere accross the nation. We all know that lotto tickets are bearer instruments and if I lived in Illinois I rather have the ticket in my hand. I was recently in Illinois and picked up an advance play ticket for 15 drawings. Any person over 18 living in Illinois can do the same thing.  "We make a living by what you get, You make a LIFE by what you give!" Sir Winston Churchill | | |
Chief Bottle Washer New Jersey United States Member #1 May 31, 2000 20636 Posts Online | | Posted: December 27, 2011, 7:54 am - IP Logged | |
I thought that Illinois offers a subsription service to Illinois players??? What is the advantage of offerring an online lottery service only to Illinois residents when a person can just go down the street to a convience store and pick up their own ticket??? Just doesn't make sense to me unless it was offered to anyone over 18 anywhere accross the nation. We all know that lotto tickets are bearer instruments and if I lived in Illinois I rather have the ticket in my hand. I was recently in Illinois and picked up an advance play ticket for 15 drawings. Any person over 18 living in Illinois can do the same thing. People said the same thing about shopping online. Why bother when you can just go down the street and buy the same thing at a store? Just look at the UK: they've had online sales for a few years now — available only to people who live there — and it is a very popular way to play. Even though they can just go to a corner market and play. | | |
South Carolina United States Member #6 November 4, 2001 8387 Posts Online | | Posted: December 27, 2011, 8:23 am - IP Logged | |
Playing a states lottery games online makes it easier for the state to track who you are and how much you have won or lost. If you are someone who cashes in a number of tickets below the tax witholding level and your losses show less than what you have won you better be filing that on your taxes. The feds and states love tax revenue.  They are not doing this for your convenience. Stats hunting: | | |
South Carolina United States Member #6 November 4, 2001 8387 Posts Online | | Posted: December 27, 2011, 8:31 am - IP Logged | |
If they are worried that someone is a heavy gambler they just might send someone knocking on your door for gambling addiction.  
Stats hunting: | | |
British Columbia Canada Member #116120 September 4, 2011 2436 Posts Offline | | Posted: December 27, 2011, 9:51 am - IP Logged | |
I thought that Illinois offers a subsription service to Illinois players??? What is the advantage of offerring an online lottery service only to Illinois residents when a person can just go down the street to a convience store and pick up their own ticket??? Just doesn't make sense to me unless it was offered to anyone over 18 anywhere accross the nation. We all know that lotto tickets are bearer instruments and if I lived in Illinois I rather have the ticket in my hand. I was recently in Illinois and picked up an advance play ticket for 15 drawings. Any person over 18 living in Illinois can do the same thing. when a person can't just go down the street to a convenience store and pick up their own ticket(s) is a reason why this would be an advantage for said person "You have to be in it to win it!" | | |
Hard Luck, Ak United States Member #23813 October 13, 2005 232 Posts Offline | | Posted: December 27, 2011, 10:07 am - IP Logged | |
People said the same thing about shopping online. Why bother when you can just go down the street and buy the same thing at a store? Just look at the UK: they've had online sales for a few years now — available only to people who live there — and it is a very popular way to play. Even though they can just go to a corner market and play. Todd you have a valid point when it comes to shopping online but I respectfully disagree when it comes to lottery tickets. I do alot of my shopping online because you can often get better deals then going into a store and plus you don't have to put up with the hassle of dealing with big crowds, parking etc. Another advantage is you can shop at your convience at any time during the day and with going to a store you can only go during their hours of operation. Since most convience stores are 24/7 you can pick up your tickets at anytime of the day you choose and can even pick them up while grocery shopping. If a person chooses to buy tickets online that's ok by me, but if I was a Illinois resident I would choose to pick up my ticket from a retailer. "A bird in the hand beats 2 in the bush!" If that ticket is signed and in your hand their is no dispute who the owner is! Just my opinion. "We make a living by what you get, You make a LIFE by what you give!" Sir Winston Churchill | | |
Hard Luck, Ak United States Member #23813 October 13, 2005 232 Posts Offline | | Posted: December 27, 2011, 10:15 am - IP Logged | |
when a person can't just go down the street to a convenience store and pick up their own ticket(s) is a reason why this would be an advantage for said person That makes sense lottoguy but usually a person can find someone to pick up their tickets for them. I am just saying what I would do. But if a person chooses to buy online than that is ok too. I am just not fond of the idea, but if the people of Illinois buy off on it and it becomes successful than so be it. "We make a living by what you get, You make a LIFE by what you give!" Sir Winston Churchill | | |
United States Member #392 June 8, 2002 11530 Posts Online | | Posted: December 27, 2011, 10:36 am - IP Logged | |
when a person can't just go down the street to a convenience store and pick up their own ticket(s) is a reason why this would be an advantage for said person I was thinking the same thing, what about if you got snowed in and could'nt get to the store, you now have the option to dail it in, LOL. -Michael "Don't be a Dummy, Make 'Dat Money" | | |
usa United States Member #89225 April 2, 2010 2344 Posts Offline | | Posted: December 27, 2011, 10:38 am - IP Logged | |
Oh a wonderful idea now that the state needs more money... | | |
New Member
Chicago, IL United States Member #111751 June 1, 2011 1 Posts Offline | | Posted: December 27, 2011, 11:09 am - IP Logged | |
Personally, I like it. And since I'm living in IL, I'm going to use online PB/MM ticketing if it's available. Sure, I can go to the 7-11 or wherever and pick up my ticket....even for 15 draws or whatever, but it's a convenience like anything else. You guys remember it gets f'n cold here, right? Who wants to scrape the windows to run to the gas station just for a ticket? Got the Des Plaines Casino, Bar poker machines (maybe), Arlington Park and other horse tracks salivating over slots, an all-but-inevitable downtown Chicago casino... IL is going pro-gambling, so why not online too? -J | | |
British Columbia Canada Member #116120 September 4, 2011 2436 Posts Offline | | Posted: December 27, 2011, 11:26 am - IP Logged | |
Personally, I like it. And since I'm living in IL, I'm going to use online PB/MM ticketing if it's available. Sure, I can go to the 7-11 or wherever and pick up my ticket....even for 15 draws or whatever, but it's a convenience like anything else. You guys remember it gets f'n cold here, right? Who wants to scrape the windows to run to the gas station just for a ticket? Got the Des Plaines Casino, Bar poker machines (maybe), Arlington Park and other horse tracks salivating over slots, an all-but-inevitable downtown Chicago casino... IL is going pro-gambling, so why not online too? -J   "You have to be in it to win it!" | | |
PA United States Member #66644 October 16, 2008 1280 Posts Offline | | Posted: December 27, 2011, 1:44 pm - IP Logged | |
This is off subject, but ................ I am tired of pumping out my basement. It is especially bad today. no more rain. A big win tonite would help!
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