USA United States
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March 13, 2003
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"However, I wish lottery tickets could be purchased from state lotteries on the interenet across state lines." Konane
There is no law governing this and some states do sell tickets by mail. Massachusetts definitely does. In fact, you can buy a season ticket by calling a toll free number and they will mail you the slips. There is one exception, which is the MegaMillions. They will sell you all state games, but not MM. I guess the combined states have agreed not to sell tickets by mail. Some states like Georgia have talked about selling tickets to out-of-state residents in the past, but I don't think the bill ever passed. I called them last year when there was an article in the news and was told that it was on hold but it would be okay if I had a legal address within the state, but they would not mail any tickets to Florida. Of course I'm not going to rent a place in Georgia just to buy lottery tickets! Right now I can't really afford to be buying too many tickets, especially for games with such high odds like PB & MM so it's fine with me, but I agree with you completely. I guess they are worried about credit card fraud, because how else would you buy tickets long distance? I've also read that, if states make it too easy for people to buy tickets, the retailers might lose income. Also there would be less incentive for them to sell tickets. It's true that people usually buy other things when they get lottery tickets, especially convenience stores. I just went into Sweetbay to get my Wed night Lotto tickets and ended up getting soup, yogurt and cereal and I usually don't shop at that store. It happens to me all the time. Who can buy one thing?
To my knowledge there are statutes on the books federally stemming from racketeering laws enacted in the 30's that prohibits the US mail from carrying any lottery materials across state lines which is why even winning tickets sent through the mail seems to be a gray area. I believe that statute prohibits even play slips or other enticements being sent through the mail.
Believe there was one change to those laws under Clinton but am not clear as to what it was.
Our Georgia legislature is considering ticket sales over the internet but that has been tabled probably due to proposed federal legislation. However unless federal laws are changed it is doubtful they would accept purchases from outside Georgia over the internet if implemented under current laws. Anyone out of state playing Georgia lotteries could wish because it would be easier, save time and gas.
Charlotte NC United States
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June 18, 2005
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That statement just isn't true! I have friends that come down to Delaware from New Jersey all the time and purchase their 4 cartons of cigarettes with their credit card! BaristaExpress
Barista, I think Clairvoyance was referring to online sales. There have been many attempts to prohibit buying cigarettes online and now the credit card companies are getting tough. For example:
"Cigarette sales over the Internet ... are not only illegal; they are also a direct threat to public health, because they increase smoking rates, which leads to increases in lung cancer and other smoking-related illnesses," said New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. "By working with all the major card companies, we will severely restrict the ability of the Internet retailers to make these illegal sales."
Keep in mind that I am a radical anti-smoker and would be happy if nobody lit up outside of their own homes, since I start choking when someone smokes on the next block. LOL However, in fairness to people who want to feed their habit, it's none of my business and I think it's wrong to pass these stupid laws and support their right to purchase cigarettes from anywhere they want to without the government stepping in. I wonder if stopping online purchases was really to protect the health of children or because people were avoiding taxes by buying them online? I also read that European and Mexican companies were selling quite a lot of cartons to Americans at cheaper prices.
Cigarette sells were used to fund terrorist groups as well. They had warehouses of them in NC.
Wandering Aimlessly United States
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November 5, 2005
4,461 Posts
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"To my knowledge there are statutes on the books federally stemming from racketeering laws enacted in the 30's that prohibits the US mail from carrying any lottery materials across state lines which is why even winning tickets sent through the mail seems to be a gray area. I believe that statute prohibits even play slips or other enticements being sent through the mail." Konane
I won't argue or since I never spent much time investigating this, but to save you the trouble, here is one FAQ from the MA site (in red below) As I said in my previous post, the MM tickets are not available, but when I called last year I was told they would be happy to mail me a registration form for a Season Ticket for any State game even though I am not a MA resident. Now that I've read this again, they're not saying they'll mail the ticket, are they? They are saying they will register a ticket by phone or by mail. Hmm.
Can non-residents play the game? If so, how do they collect?
Yes, anyone 18 and over can purchase any 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.
Mega Millions Season Tickets CANNOT be purchased via phone from out of state.
Magnolia, Delaware United States
Member #18,794
July 20, 2005
789 Posts
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BaristaExpress writes: Besides, I don't see any credit card company allowing any state in the union to tell them what their card holders can or can't buy with their credit cards!
Oh, oh, oh BaristaExpress, some credit card companies will not let you use their credit card for gambling purposes.
Oh, oh, oh Laverne, look at what you just said OK! But, just for fun I'll Quote you. "some credit card companies will not let you use their credit card for gambling purposes". Ahh so true, nor will most states that have lotteries won't let you use a credit card to purchase a lottery ticket! But, lets get back to the facts here; it was the credit card companies "CHOICE" not to let you use their cards for gambling purposes! Now, that's a big difference from being "Told what your card holders" could or couldn't buy with their credit card by some form of government entity!
Keep dreaming the impossible dream, it just may come true!
Magnolia, Delaware United States
Member #18,794
July 20, 2005
789 Posts
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That statement just isn't true! I have friends that come down to Delaware from New Jersey all the time and purchase their 4 cartons of cigarettes with their credit card! BaristaExpress
Barista, I think Clairvoyance was referring to online sales. There have been many attempts to prohibit buying cigarettes online and now the credit card companies are getting tough. For example:
"Cigarette sales over the Internet ... are not only illegal; they are also a direct threat to public health, because they increase smoking rates, which leads to increases in lung cancer and other smoking-related illnesses," said New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. "By working with all the major card companies, we will severely restrict the ability of the Internet retailers to make these illegal sales."
Keep in mind that I am a radical anti-smoker and would be happy if nobody lit up outside of their own homes, since I start choking when someone smokes on the next block. LOL However, in fairness to people who want to feed their habit, it's none of my business and I think it's wrong to pass these stupid laws and support their right to purchase cigarettes from anywhere they want to without the government stepping in. I wonder if stopping online purchases was really to protect the health of children or because people were avoiding taxes by buying them online? I also read that European and Mexican companies were selling quite a lot of cartons to Americans at cheaper prices.
OK, justxploring you're more than likely right on that! (I think Clairvoyance was referring to online sales.)I'll give you that! And you're right on the front of the online sales of cigarettes. Most states see's it as a way around their high tax on the cigarettes sold in their state! Of course they won't stand for anyone buying something and not paying their rate of tax on it, but they don't have to much to say about it when UPS does deliver cigarettes to people within those states and all around the country everyday! Yes, the USPS won't deliver them, but UPS will and does everyday of the week!
New York might be able to do that (key word there is might) but in the long run they won't be able to stop the cigarettes from being delivered unless they are going to kick UPS out and forbid them from doing business in their state! And do you think for one New York minute that will happen? Nope it will not, so New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer better get use to the fact that those cigarettes are still going to make it to his state via UPS or some other delivery company! UPS pays to much tax to the state of New York for them to get anything done to them for delivering those online bought cigarettes to those who have a valid New York address!
What A Joke Spitzer Has Become! Let's see him STOP UPS. IT'S NOT GOING TO EVER HAPPEN IN HIS LIFETIME!
Keep dreaming the impossible dream, it just may come true!
Amarillo/Austin United States
Member #1,424
April 25, 2003
696 Posts
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My, oh my. How you have drifted from the subject of this thread. From playing lotto offshore to cigarette sales. Must have a lot of smokers on the Lotto Post. The lottery sales proposal may pass, but it is unenforcable. An unenforcable law is not a law at all. It is window dressing.
Georgia USA United States
Member #39,685
May 20, 2006
103 Posts
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I dont see why it wouldnt pass. Big brother ( The Govt ) is out to make money. If they dont get the money or see a way to ban it they will because its not in their best interests. thanks to the good ole US govt. regulating everything, we will have to ask permission to whipe our own tails before to long lol.
Tennessee United States
Member #7,853
October 15, 2004
11,352 Posts
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My, oh my. How you have drifted from the subject of this thread. From playing lotto offshore to cigarette sales. Must have a lot of smokers on the Lotto Post. The lottery sales proposal may pass, but it is unenforcable. An unenforcable law is not a law at all. It is window dressing.
Orangeman
the thing i'm wondering is if our bank cuts off our access to gamble online what other way is there to do this?
United States
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November 23, 2005
1,404 Posts
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As I have said in another post, it took them a while but they did the same with cigarettes not being allowed to be purchased with credit cards so I would not be surprised if it happens with lottery.
That statement just isn't true! I have friends that come down to Delaware from New Jersey all the time and purchase their 4 cartons of cigarettes with their credit card! I have also done this in my own state! Last year while on a trip in So. Carolina I purchased cartons of cigarettes with my credit card! Besides, I don't see any credit card company allowing any state in the union to tell them what their card holders can or can't buy with their credit cards! But to top it off, I have yet to see or hear of any federal regulation/ law being passed prohibiting the purchasing of cigarettes with a credit card!
Become much more difficult. Last month, the major card companies teamed up with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG). The parties agreed to enforce a ban on Internet tobacco sales made with credit cards.
Longstanding policies among the card companies deal specifically with the prohibition of illegal credit card transactions. In a meeting held in conjunction with the ATF and several Attorneys General on March 17, 2005, the card companies agreed not to process illegal transactions and to report illegal and suspicious activity to the proper authorities.
Go Read the rest of the story, you must not watch the news or read your local news paper! Clairvoyance does not go around making statements that are NOT TRUE! Further more go and try to purchase cigarettes ONLINE with your credit card once and see what happens! Also your credit card company will report your buys to the authorities so don't be surprised if you get a letter in the mail saying you owe taxes on your cigarette purchases, a friend of mine was turned in and got a letter saying just that!
United States
Member #26,881
November 23, 2005
1,404 Posts
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As I have said in another post, it took them a while but they did the same with cigarettes not being allowed to be purchased with credit cards so I would not be surprised if it happens with lottery.
That statement just isn't true! I have friends that come down to Delaware from New Jersey all the time and purchase their 4 cartons of cigarettes with their credit card! I have also done this in my own state! Last year while on a trip in So. Carolina I purchased cartons of cigarettes with my credit card! Besides, I don't see any credit card company allowing any state in the union to tell them what their card holders can or can't buy with their credit cards! But to top it off, I have yet to see or hear of any federal regulation/ law being passed prohibiting the purchasing of cigarettes with a credit card!
Become much more difficult. Last month, the major card companies teamed up with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG). The parties agreed to enforce a ban on Internet tobacco sales made with credit cards.
Longstanding policies among the card companies deal specifically with the prohibition of illegal credit card transactions. In a meeting held in conjunction with the ATF and several Attorneys General on March 17, 2005, the card companies agreed not to process illegal transactions and to report illegal and suspicious activity to the proper authorities.
Go Read the rest of the story, you must not watch the news or read your local news paper! Clairvoyance does not go around making statements that are NOT TRUE! Further more go and try to purchase cigarettes ONLINE with your credit card once and see what happens! Also your credit card company will report your buys to the authorities so don't be surprised if you get a letter in the mail saying you owe taxes on your cigarette purchases, a friend of mine was turned in and got a letter saying just that!
Still think its not true? Know the Facts! As I have said I would not be surprised to see this happen to Online lottery sells.
In 2005, both DHL and UPS agreed to cease delivery of cigarettes to consumers throughout the United States. In addition, in March 2005, the major credit card companies all agreed to take steps to ensure that their credit card systems are not used to process payments that further illegal cigarette sales. Finally, last month, Philip Morris USA (PM USA) reached an agreement with a coalition of 37 Attorneys General to reduce the supply of PM USA cigarettes to those engaged in such illegal sales.
Today's agreement means that the three major package delivery companies - FedEx, UPS and DHL - have all agreed to prohibit deliveries of cigarettes to individual consumers nationwide. Unfortunately, the cigarette traffickers continue to use the United States Postal Service as courier for their illegal sales.
Magnolia, Delaware United States
Member #18,794
July 20, 2005
789 Posts
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Clairvoyance, the companies that do sell cigarettes online may have a harder time of it, but it's not going to stop those sales! All those companies are going to do, is do what Prime Tickets Service does, that's all. You were right in what you said, but that was after the fact though. You didn't make it clear as to how those purchases were to be made when you first posted. Making purchases online or in a store, you didn't say; You just said buying cigarettes with a credit card. I guess I'll try my hand at buying cigarettes online just to see what happens and lets see my state get it's taxes that could be owed on that purchase. LOL! Yes, I buck the system every chance I get! And 95% of the time, I come out ahead by challenging that said system!
Keep dreaming the impossible dream, it just may come true!
United States
Member #26,881
November 23, 2005
1,404 Posts
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Clairvoyance, the companies that do sell cigarettes online may have a harder time of it, but it's not going to stop those sales! All those companies are going to do, is do what Prime Tickets Service does, that's all. You were right in what you said, but that was after the fact though. You didn't make it clear as to how those purchases were to be made when you first posted. Making purchases online or in a store, you didn't say; You just said buying cigarettes with a credit card. I guess I'll try my hand at buying cigarettes online just to see what happens and lets see my state get it's taxes that could be owed on that purchase. LOL! Yes, I buck the system every chance I get! And 95% of the time, I come out ahead by challenging that said system!
You can buy cigarettes on line! You wont do it with your credit card I can guarantee you that right this moment because the company will tell you its against the law and they wont take it because the credit card company wont pay the purchase!!!!!
Check or money order YES they will take those! Who will deliver the package to your door? Not UPS for sure as you can see nor the other carriers listed!
I said this clear beforehand in a very similar post to this one! There were a few cigarette companies that were forced to turn names in and that is why people got letters! How would you stop that from happening? If you think you can get around the credit card use online for a cigarette purchase it wont happen because of the bill that was passed! Again check or money order fine yes you will get your purchase and that, if you ask me, is taking away freedom of use of our credit cards! We should be able to purchase what we want using them but this is no longer the case! All I am saying is one by one our freedoms are being plucked away!
And I will say it again that it would NOT surprise me for this to happen to online lottery purchases! If I am not mistaken, which I may well be on this one, there are banks now that do not allow you to use checks to purchase lottery tickets! If credit cards are abolished for lottery sales and so are checks or bank accounts then what?
The government does not take loosing money well, it does not matter how many people scream, fuss, or write letters, when the government wants something to happen for their own good the job gets done!