Poway CA (San Diego County) United States
Member #3,489
January 25, 2004
14,120 Posts
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If he buys tickets from the Massachusetts Lottery, they will send them direct to you. They use a shipping service, not the post office, so no law is broken. He can call the Massachusetts Lottery toll free and place an order, for himself, or as a gift. I nearly sure it's to only lottery to sell to people out of state. That's what I can FREE TRADE!
Disagree. Unless they've changed the rules in the past few weeks, you cannot purchase ANY lottery tickets from the Massachusetts lottery by mail unless you can show proof of residence. When MM was over $300M I called the Lottery Headquarters in Braintree and was told that only legal residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts can purchase subscriptions by mail. I'll check again, but this was fairly recent.
Okay - Here it is, right from the Mass Lottery site - now I'm confused. The lady on the phone was very clear that I couldn't buy them. Maybe she was just talking about the Mega Millions tickets, since that was the purpose of my call.
10. QUESTION: Can non-residents play the game? If so, how do they collect? 10. ANSWER:Yes, anyone 18 and over can purchase Lottery product at any agent location. All players can collect their prizes at the same locations listed in question four. Additionally, Season Tickets can be purchased directly from any sales agent while in the state or from out of state, by calling l-800-222-TKTS. The ticket can be registered in the owner's name by completing and returning the registration form to the Lottery. Season Tickets are available for Megabucks, Mass Cash, Mega Millions and Cash Winfall. NOTE: Mega Millions Season Tickets are NOT available from out of state through the 800 number listed above.
Notice that it says that a non-resident can buy the tickets "at any agent location". That means that if I am visiting another state, I can buy a lottery ticket in that state and don't have to be a resident of that state. It also says that a non-resident can "collect their prizes at the same locations listed...".
I rest my case!
I think you will find that the courts have ruled that using UPS, FedEx, etc. is still illegal.
Australia
Member #17,095
June 11, 2005
225 Posts
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"RATS. Mass. Lottery only has Mega Millions."
No, Mass Lottery has Megabucks, Mass Cash and CASH WinFall.
Mega Millions Season Tickets CANNOT be purchased via phone from out of state. The other three can. I know, I bought a season ticket as a gift for a friend in california. They send them by a shipping company, not the postal service, and they charge $4 for that. Buy, it's perfectly legal. Willing buyer, willing seller, the American way!
USA United States
Member #1,265
March 13, 2003
9,077 Posts
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I believe the laws may be part of the anti-racketeering laws which state that lottery tickets can not be sold and sent over state lines via the postal service by the lottery or retailers. All put in place prior to the internet.
However, if they do change laws where purchases can be made over the net, the person purchasing will likely receive a voucher with a number which would be used to collect any potential winnings. I believe FL does that now with in-state subscriptions, probably other states also.