Hoosier Lottery Email response

Reply #34

Todd — Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:16:15 GMT

Jake,You're correct for everyday citizens, but you seemed to skip over the part that says unless that business is permitted under an agreement between the states in question or appropriate authorities of those states. The lottery laws enable vendors to use common carriers to ship tickets and other paraphernalia to retailers.Besides, that law you are quoted is not the USPS law, it is a federal gambling law, which does not operate in isolation. It exists within a legal framework that allows the... [ More ]

Reply #33

four4me — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 22:48:43 GMT

---Ok let me put this another way. Say your my relative you live in Michigan you send me tickets for the fantasy 5 and the classic lotto 47. And it just so happens I win the jackpot prize for one of those games. I'm gonna make a trip there and cash my ticket. Under no circumstance would I tell a soul that I received lottery tickets in the mail. Since I'm from out of state as soon as I pull out my ID to get my money they might ask me some questions about said ticket. Of course my response is gonn... [ More ]

Reply #32

Jake649 — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 21:10:33 GMT

Todd,The law I quoted makes reference to any express company or other common carrier for carriage . Therefore the law is attempting to apply beyong the USPS. I am trying to point out that the law is so general it is useless and unenforcable.I know the law does not apply in Canada. Please give me some credit. Also, I am not recommending that people break the law.You wonder why people are advocating breaking the law .I wonder why you are so hot on this topic. I speculate that you do not want peo... [ More ]

Reply #31

truecritic — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 19:12:38 GMT

>You don't need a lawyer just type USPS in your search engine then go to their site and type lottery tickets in their search engine the laws are on their site.Hehe...well, you are right, you don't need a lawyer. But otherwise I was asking for a WRITTEN reference for why or when they could be mailed. Since so many are getting answers contrary to the Postal law. If I and many others know it is illegal, then why are people in authority saying gifts are legal? Are those people that dumb? Or do... [ More ]

Reply #30

four4me — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 18:35:44 GMT

You don't need a lawyer just type USPS in your search engine then go to their site and type lottery tickets in their search engine the laws are on their site.

Reply #29

truecritic — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 18:25:30 GMT

I was always under the opinion that lottery tickets could not be sent through the US mail.Has anyone asked their Postmaster for a writtten statement. Or perhaps Postal law that shows it is legal for gifts, etc ? Perhaps from the Postmaster General's office - Wash DC?...also, don't we have any lawyers as members? Come on lawyers, give us some opinions

Reply #28

Todd — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 17:37:06 GMT

Scientific Games, as well as the other vendors and the state lotteries, send their tickets through carriers like UPS, not through the USPS, so this particular law would not apply.Also, since you're in Canada, not the United States, this law doesn't apply to you, so I can see where it would be easy for you to recommend that other people break this law.I have a hard time understanding why a certain small group of people in this thread are advocating breaking the law.However, I'm just going to stop... [ More ]

Reply #27

Chewie — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 15:14:30 GMT

It's like UPS, FedEx and the Post Office. They can dangerously block traffic any where any time and no one will care - except those impacted and they can't do anything about it. It's a big boys world, not an equal opportunity sandbox.

Reply #26

jim695 — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 13:51:34 GMT

Well, you'll all be happy to know I've just pulled out what little hair remained on my head.I posted Title 18 of the United States Code. It's Federal Law. It's right there in front of you. All you have to do is read it. It says it's illegal to send lottery tickets through the mail.There. Now I've pulled out the rest of my hair, and it didn't come from my head, since that was already gone. Now stop this before I manage to hurt myself.

Reply #25

four4me — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 04:41:19 GMT

You can send tickets thru the mail but I wouldn't make a habit of it. There are laws each state my have amendments to the law.Here in lies the problem say you receive a ticket in the mail from your relative and it wins the jackpot. You go to claim the ticket they ask you how you come to be in possession of a ticket and you live a couple thousand miles away. You say your relative bought it for you sent it to you in the mail. They say it's against the law to send and receive lottery tickets in the... [ More ]

Reply #24

Jake649 — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 04:37:18 GMT

Section 1301. Importing or transporting lottery ticketsWhoever brings into the United States for the purpose of disposing of the same, or knowingly deposits with any express company or other common carrier for carriage, or carries in interstate or foreign commerce any paper, certificate, or instrument purporting to be or to represent a ticket, chance, share, or interest in or dependent upon the event of a lottery, gift enterprise, or similar scheme, offering prizes dependent in whole or in part

Reply #23

Todd — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 04:08:21 GMT

I thought you were going to call a lawyer? I was the one who said something about the Postmaster General. You were stuck on the lawyer thing. Glad you came around.

Reply #22

LOTTOMIKE — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 04:00:46 GMT

the lines are starting to get blurred on this whole matter.BUT being that i am not giving or receiving tickets through the mail the whole thing is moot as far as i'm concerned..........

Reply #21

dman2005 — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 22:15:33 GMT

Calling your local postmaster like I just did is free too....I was told it is legal to send as gifts...that law is primarliy for businesses or for scammers....my postmaster said if you are only sending tickets a few times a year..and are not running it as a business..then it's fine to send as a gift thru the postal service....So it's not so plain and simple as you stated....the advice is free from the postmaster...call him/her....I explained we are having a discussion about sending lottery ticke... [ More ]

Reply #20

Todd — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 21:31:05 GMT

Lawyers don't sit around waiting for questions. They charge a fee to be on the phone with you for even a minute.However, why this discussion is at this point is beyond me. This all started with a question about the law, and we all don't need a lawyer to tell us that it is against the law to mail (or receive in the mail) a lottery ticket. It is illegal, plain and simple.You started this extra discussion by saying that it's no big deal to break this law. If you went ahead and called an attor... [ More ]

Reply #19

Chewie — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 21:30:35 GMT

You don't need an attorney for common sense, only for compliance with the complicated. If it looks shady, feels shady, or you have to ask if it is shady, DO NOT DO IT. I need a lawyer for this? NO! Spend your money on something that makes you happy - or could make you happy. Not on something that can put you in jail.

Reply #18

dman2005 — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 21:26:12 GMT

ok Todd..whatever..but lawyers have the answers..as they are in the legal profession..unlike a layperson ....I never said they had to be on call 24 hours a day....it takes a simple phone call during business hours...so if you want the best advice on a legal issue it will take a call to the attorney to get the best advice....laymen can only think they know alot....

Reply #17

Todd — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 21:17:54 GMT

I don't understand you. Do you really think people should have an attorney on-call 24 hours a day and they should keep calling them whenever they have a question? Do you really have the money set aside to keep calling an attorney every time you have a question? If not, then you should really stop with the cracks about calling an attorney. It's not an answer.I also think it's strange to equate your friend's scheme with gambling violations, and stranger still that you don't think it's a big de... [ More ]

Reply #16

dman2005 — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 21:07:20 GMT

... A carrier to start to notice suspicious patterns such as that I get mail delivered every day...lol...still best consult an attorney first on this issue......for the record a friend of mine was in hot water over some stuffing envelope scheme that he mailed out..and people would reply to it by the hundreds...the amount of money coming in was astronomical..I know as I was there to see it....he would bring home tubs of mail from the post office...anyway...complaints came in to the postmaster... [ More ]

Reply #15

Todd — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 20:53:21 GMT

I hate to say this, but it really doesn't sound like you know how this stuff works, especially with the USPS.A DA does not do postal inspections. Those are carried out by the Postmaster General.Postal violations, especially anything involving gambling, are taken very seriously, and they are federal crimes. Anyone who knows the law knows that federal crimes are worse than a slap-on-the-wrist state misdemeanor.All it takes is for a postal carrier anywhere along the route to notice the lotter... [ More ]

Reply #14

dman2005 — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 19:24:09 GMT

Call an attorney and ask...that's what they get paid the big bucks for....we also know that most first time offenders get slaps on the wrist....this is not a serious crime....Also the only way a DA will know if you got any tickets in the mail..is if you TOLD on YOURSELF...now that is silly..or unless you are are on some sort of watch list or are under investigation for something else...

Reply #13

Todd — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 19:20:24 GMT

Also, they do prosecute that law. You're playing with fire if you do it.

Reply #12

Todd — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 19:19:42 GMT

Actually, both are nailed in the case of buying tickets thru the mail. If you buy them and have them shipped to you, then you are knowingly having them shipped, and you are breaking the law.Your argument is like saying that if you get pot thru the mail, then only the sender is liable.

Reply #11

dman2005 — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 19:17:09 GMT

The key words in Jim's post are... Whoever knowingly ...so if I didn't know it was illegal..then I wouldn't knowingly be breaking the law...anyone can claim they didn't know....I really doubt this silly law will be prosecuted..to many more important things to worry about then a lottery ticket in the mail...LMAO The sender is nailed..not the receiver

Reply #10

Todd — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 19:10:56 GMT

Jim,I see it!!It is completely ILLEGAL to mail lottery tickets in the USA. However, I think there is a difference about when the tickets are mailed, because it seems to be legal to mail them AFTER the drawing takes place. I have personally done so when I claimed Powerball winnings through the mail.I would never, ever deal with a company that sells and mails lottery tickets, because it's only a matter of time before you're nailed.

Reply #9

bronson — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 18:14:14 GMT

part two, just had my husband read the law and he said it looks like it's illegal to have a business that sells lottery tickets and mails them. He got that from the way the word enterprise is used.

Reply #8

bronson — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 17:46:16 GMT

Hi, I just called the post office and the guy I talked to talked to his supervisor and said yes that lottery tickets can be mailed. I basically made up a story that I have a brother in Pennsylvania who wants to mail me powerball tickets as a Christmas gift but I was told it was illegal. This postal law is difficult to interpert because it keeps saying scheme and similar scheme. Anyway, thought I'd share the info.

Reply #7

jim695 — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 17:08:13 GMT

Am I writing in invisible ink?Can anyone else see the text from my previous post, or does it only appear on my screen

Reply #6

anonymous77 — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 14:53:56 GMT

So far, I have heard of many claims about the legality of mailing lottery ticket(s) in the Unites States from so many different persons. To me, however, most of them appeared to be something like personal opinions or their own rigid vervatim interpretation of law. At least to me.But, the content of e-mail response from the Hoosier Lottery which Korean Redneck posted makes the most sense to me. I think Hoosier Lottery's position (or judgment, interpretation, or whatever one names it) needs to be... [ More ]

Reply #5

jim695 — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 13:09:37 GMT

Anti-Lottery Laws Prohibit Use of Mail to Promote LotteriesFederal statutes prohibit, among other things, the mailing or transportation in interstate or foreign commerce of promotions for lotteries or the sending of lottery tickets themselves. The text of the several statutes is set forth below. For a thoroughgoing analysis see Pic-A-State Pa., Inc. v. Reno, 76 F.3d 1294 (C.A.3 (Pa.), 1996). See also, the analysis and comments by Jeffrey Rodefer at Interstate Wagering Amendments.Title 18, United... [ More ]

Reply #4

Todd — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 20:12:08 GMT

I agree with CalifDude, try asking the USPS that same question. I think the Hoosier Lottery is being very irresponsible for giving that response. It doesn't matter is a ticket is sent as a gift or as part of a business venture -- mailing lottery tickets is illegal all the same, and I would NEVER do it, no matter what.

Reply #3

bellyache — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 20:07:00 GMT

I guess you shouldn't have a problem receiving tickets from your friend now, if they are a gift.

Reply #2

cps10 — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 19:39:28 GMT

I imagine that cat could get locked up for that. Down here, it is illegal just to possess a lottery ticket from another state.

Reply #1

CalifDude — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 19:38:14 GMT

Now try asking the USPS Inspector Office the same question.

Hoosier Lottery Email response

Korean Redneck — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 19:30:23 GMT

I emailed Hoosier Lottery and asked if my Friend can send me Lotto Tickets VIA mail for Christmas.. I asked him for some Powerball tickets and I am from Michigan, a Mega Millions state. heres what they said. Dear John:I am in receipt of your recent e-mail to the Hoosier Lottery.Please be advised that your friend can send you tickets for Christmas. This is a gift and not a business conducting cross-border sales of lottery tickets.As you know, some states have lotteries and other states do not.