Louisiana could join one of few states that offer direct online lottery sales
By Kate Northrop
A Louisiana legislator introduced a bill that would make it legal for the Louisiana Lottery to sell tickets online directly to players.
Louisiana may join the select group of states that allow for the sale of lottery tickets over the Internet.
On April 1, State Representative Vanessa Caston Lafleur filed House Bill 228, which would prompt the Louisiana Lottery to implement, administer, and regulate the digital sale of lottery tickets.
Regulating online ticket sales would include adopting age verification methods to prohibit individuals under the age of 21 from playing the lottery over the Internet, as well as location verification methods to restrict the online purchase of tickets to only those physically located in the state.
Supporters of the bill hope that allowing online lottery sales will create additional revenue for state funds. 25% of lottery revenue is transferred to the state treasury to support education, with the first $500,000 going toward problem gambling programs, according to the Louisiana Lottery.
The Lottery has transferred more than $4.8 billion to the state of Louisiana since its inception.
In permitting online ticket sales, there's also the possibility that the Lottery could also begin offering digital-exclusive products, such as online scratch-off games.
However, Louisiana still treats any form of online gambling stringently. Online sports betting is allowed, but online casino games, online poker, and other forms of Internet gambling are against state law.
HB 228's language specifies that digital lottery ticket purchases are not to be considered a form of online gambling, thereby excluding itself from those restrictions.
The bill was read for the first time in the House on April 14 and was referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice. Before it can be considered for a vote on the House, it must be approved by the committee.
This is great news for Louisiana players. Giving players the convenience of playing on line is a great idea. I still do brick and mortar. Physically wrote a letter to IGT in RI which covers KY about their updated website which is fine. The problem is with the phone app and how even if you log out, most times it'll forget all your log-in information (email/password/biometrics which is optional).
On some of the sports betting advertisements they'll list the states where it is available. It is a cash cow here in Kentucky. In regards to LA it'll say (Select parishes only). Makes me smile, but in bourbon country, there are still counties here that a dry.
Todd/Kate, has there ever been a collective article on all the states where on line purchasing is allowed? Thank you.
It would be nice if they had two draws a day. Then Mr 100% flawless could use his system on his state
"Physically wrote a letter to IGT in RI which covers KY about their updated website which is fine."
Don't know which games you're playing or looking at, but simply logging into the Kentucky Lottery Online site from a PC is terrible. Nothing worse that watching the Keno numbers I want to play being drawn while I'm waiting five minutes for location verification. Occasionally just before a drawing, the screen refreshes without even showing the results. Get logged off when go to the past results page that doesn't even have the last drawing results.
Was told by another Keno player, the website is designed for playing using a cell phone and doesn't have the glitches I'm experiencing on my PC.
I have had zero problems with the PC website, the only thing different as you say is it wants to verify my location, no biggie. Sure Mr. OCD (somewhat) didn't get his way with suggesting the computer camera be used to check tickets.
As for the phone APP it is not like the old system. Too many times, over 85% of the time easily even if I log out, it won't remember a thing about me the next time. Being we're well into the 21st century this is unacceptable to me. Seriously doubt IGT RI will even contact me. Stocks can be sold and I'll wash my hands of them. It is probably inherently built into their system for security reasons. Sure miss the old days of biometric scanning and right into the App. Have followed their advice to get rid of the APP and reload it. Oh well you can have your APP Stack 47 if it makes you happy.
This is the first I've heard this! I think it would be great if Louisiana offered online sales. It would make my life easier.
"As for the phone APP it is not like the old system. "
The APP I use is almost the same as the "old system phone APP". The difference between the old and new web pages are "night and day" with the exception of the annoying instant games scrolling next to the Keno board. The old page had a "view past results" tab that we could go back and forth to the Keno board without having to log back in as is required on the new page.
Not knocking your IGT stock just saying whomever set up the new web page doesn't have a clue.
This should be standard procedure for every lottery!
They had another upgrade tonight and it seemed to work better on the phone app---so far!