Tech industry sets its sights on gambling

I was at my lottery HQ and they insisted on "cash only" so I assumed it was a law in AZ. 

It doesnt make much sense for the retailer to do it. Dont they get charged a percentage fee or per transaction fee for each swipe? I would think it would eat away too much at whatever they get for selling the ticket.

When there's an available source of revenue with tons of money to be made, laws will be changed.

It's only a matter of time before everybody will be gambling and buying lottery tickets online.

They'll just have to be politically correct about it and call the bill the "Widows & Poor Little Orphans Online Gambling Bill" or the "Education Online Gambling Bill."

Then it will sail right through.

In Michigan, it is expressly against lottery policy to accept credit cards for payment on lottery tickets. However, Debit cards are accepted, as long as you enter your PIN when purchasing them - the transaction may not be ran as credit.

Indiana has a policy allowing any form of payment to be used. As a matter of fact, they tell retailers to promote using credit/debit cards as a method of payment... I dunno.

Retailers will most likely never stop selling tickets - especially scratch-offs. There are people who play the lottery who want the instant gratification of cash in their hand should they win, and the lotteries know this. Lotteries would be foolish to take that feeling away from people.

However, there are people (like myself) who like sitting at their computer versus going to a crowded, loud and stinky casino to gamble. Just my thoughts.

Also, it won't be fair to those without computors or access to the internet, so for votes, they'll hand out computors and on-line vouchers at the tax payers expense, after all it's only fair.

 Except I don't see how online gambling could be made safe for the bettor. Once a person voluntarily gives up their money online it could be permanently lost. Especially if it goes out of the country.

Sounds like something the government would promote. lol. "Gambling online is a right" lol.

Remember when everyone was going to get FREE cable TV???? I'm still waiting for my "BOX" that will give me all the local channels that are now ONLY available via cable.

Yes,  but that would be true of any small transaction. Ive heard them say so many times that "You cant buy lottery tickets with credit cards" I always thought it was illegal.

I was at my lottery HQ and they insisted on "cash only" so I assumed it was a law in AZ. 

In Michigan, it is expressly against lottery policy to accept credit cards for payment on lottery tickets. However, Debit cards are accepted, as long as you enter your PIN when purchasing them - the transaction may not be ran as credit.

Indiana has a policy allowing any form of payment to be used. As a matter of fact, they tell retailers to promote using credit/debit cards as a method of payment... I dunno.

Retailers will most likely never stop selling tickets - especially scratch-offs. There are people who play the lottery who want the instant gratification of cash in their hand should they win, and the lotteries know this. Lotteries would be foolish to take that feeling away from people.

However, there are people (like myself) who like sitting at their computer versus going to a crowded, loud and stinky casino to gamble. Just my thoughts.

Yes,  but that would be true of any small transaction. Ive heard them say so many times that "You cant buy lottery tickets with credit cards" I always thought it was illegal.

Not true for Michigan I use credit 4 times a week.

Not supposed to, that retailer can lose his license if anyone finds out.

I've heard the same thing from lottery retailers, but have used a credit card and debit/credit card to purchase tickets in other stores. It probably depends on how the purchases are coded and I doubt any store would incorrectly code a transaction if it was illegal. The store where I usually buy my tickets doesn't accept debit or credit cards for lottery tickets, but the owner explained it's because of his cost for the transaction.