CHICAGO, Ill. — A Justice Department opinion issued last year cleared the way. It said the Wire Act of 1961, which bars wagering over telecommunication systems across state or national boundaries, applies only to sports betting.
At least 21 states and the District of Columbia are considering online lottery sales or other wagering such as poker, says Frank Fahrenkopf, president of the American Gaming Association, which represents commercial casinos.
New York and several other states sell lottery subscriptions to residents online but not individual tickets.
The flurry of interest spells trouble for gambling addicts and young people, says Anita Bedell of Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems. "It's going to open a whole Pandora's box nationwide," she says.
Fahrenkopf hopes Congress will set standards to protect online customers from fraud and ensure they are adults.
Jeff Lenard of the National Association of Convenience Stores says it has "significant concerns" about the economic effect on stores that sell lottery tickets.
Illinois Lottery Superintendent Michael Jones says online sales could attract 1 million new players when Mega Millions payouts exceed $100 million, increasing proceeds that go to public education. Only 9%-12% of Illinois adults play now, he says.
Starting at 7 a.m. CT Sunday, visitors to illinoislottery.com will be asked to register and enter credit card and Social Security numbers, date of birth, name and address. Sophisticated software should ensure that only Illinois residents 18 and older play, Jones says. Purchases will be limited to $100 a day. At first, only Mega Millions and Lotto games will be offered.
The federal ruling "was a gift of potentially hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of jobs to any state that wants to do this," says I. Nelson Rose, a Whittier Law School professor who blogs at gamblingandthelaw.com. "In less than 10 years, we're going to see most of the states moving to Internet gambling."
In Maine this week, a Senate committee approved a bill that would make online lottery sales illegal but could reconsider. "We're moving cautiously," Republican Sen. Debra Plowman says, "and we'll be watching Illinois."
Thanks to petergrfn for the tip.
hmmm, if you win using one of these "online subscriptions", Will they automatically announce your name as the winner?
Its a bout time the US embraced technology that other countries have been profiting from for years. If each state was to have online ticket sales, some of the dollars flowing out of this country might decrease. Just my thoughts.
With all of the crooks in the Illinois government,I'd be leery of using my credit card online.
The UCCA is gonna have a conniption fit about this.
This will have immediate and adverse effects on their income and livelihood.
Yes, I'm predicting mass protests by the United Crooked Clerks of America.
This is an excellent point, not often mentioned in the press.
Unlike traditional lottery tickets purchased at a store, for online purchases the lottery will know EXACTLY WHO WON as soon as the winning numbers are announced.
This is both good and bad. It's good because you don't have to worry about losing your lottery ticket. But it's bad, because claiming the winning ticket anonymously will be tricky or impossible.
Hmmm...
the only way i'm giving the lottery my ss# is when i'm collecting a big win.
Here they release your name at the news conference. The winning ticket location is released rightaway because its public information. We just had a subscription winner.
Wait so since they'd know who won wouldn't they already have your bank info too? In which case then the money be deposited in the 2 weeks or whatever without having to show your face?
If they allowed that (which they should), they'd probably release your Drivers License photo at the very least.
Government always has to do something to make your life miserable. It's their job.
It is about time. No more putting up with clerks who don't know what they are doing, or are irritated that they have to print the tickets. Opponents of this are missing the fact that a true addict will find a way to feed his habit no matter what. Limiting sales online to $100 a day is a sufficient speed bump for 98% of us and I know I wouldn't come anywhere near that. It is irritating to have to return to the store to just buy tickets at the last minute if you have forgotten to do it while you were out. I salute Illinois and I hope Michigan is watching!
"I salute Illinois..."
I don't know if anybody is there to receive your salute in Illinois.
You might have to wait for all the Governors to get out of prison.
My point,exactly!Illinois government is rife with corruption from the govenor on down.I won't be crossing the river to play online or at a brick & mortar store.Then,too,there is that bankruptcy thing going on with Illinois.
This is a great idea. I am assuming that you can play the Illinois Lottery online even if you don't live there?
If I won millions of dollars I could care less if they announced my name. Like I said before if that is your major concern then just don't play the lottery, problem solved.
I can't speak for the rest of Illinois, but Chicago and the surrounding suburbs are very nice places to be and live in.
Wouldn't it be nice if there were identify-protection-vehicles that could be put into place prior to purchasing online ("Hey kids! for 99$ & a 50$ annual renewal, you too can have an anonymous trust formed for the express purpose of collecting your lottery wins... be sure you ask your parents for one today!")
It would be pricy for the casual player, but for those who are in it for the long haul ("in it to win it") and play more than the ... 2 lines per game that I play ... it would be just a cost of doing business...
That way all the verification rigamaroll could be done in advance... the lottery could approve which "vehicles" it approved, and those who want anonymity would simply have to plan ahead, other wise, there could be a nice lil example of what would be released posted in a FAQ type section.
There are numerous posts on here, this very site, about people trying to cheat other people out of their winnings in the lottery and let's not even talk about that shady case where the guy walked away from millions of dollars the other day and still people are yammering on about being anonymous when they win the lottery. Unbelievable.
There is a reason they don't want you to be anonymous when you win because there are cheaters out there. DUH!
are you implying that having a "system" is cheating? akin to counting cards in LV?
people cheat in the stock market all the time and get away with it especially politicians and warmongers...
All the more reason to be anonymous.Too many people like DeeDee Moore in Florida that killed Abraham Shakespear for his lottery winnings.I'll collect my winnings as anonymously as possible,thank you.
nah I believe s/he was kvetching about the post I made suggesting a lottery-endorsed anonymous-vehicle (trust). De gustibus non est disputandum.
No, only Illionis residents can purchase online tickets.
I wish we could play lotteries outside our states!
I'd be all over the place!! lol
Thus far I don't trust it one bit.
The state capital is Springfield (when Blago was governor he never spent one night there), yet the Illinois Gaming Board, IGB, which regulates the casinos, has its headquarters in Chicago.
Not sure if the lottery does or not, but there's a saying, "The dog barks in Chicago and wags its tail in Springfield". In other words, Chicago dictates to the state capital and nothing south of Springfield has any say in anything.
Nikkicute is right about only Illinois residents...there's an 800 number you can call to get drawing results and jackpots but it only works in state.
It is Illinois! Who cares!
I just want to.read that they got their Harvard educated community organizer back!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Actually it is out job to make the government miserable! ROTFLOLing!
No your bank account is not linked to the account so you would have to provide those details. Currently, only the Illinois Lottery Visa debit card and your personal credit card are linked to the account. I like this because since the weather has turned to spring, I have been running about 2 miles one way to purchase MM tickets (I want to be fit when I win the jackpot tonight). But the lady who runs the store got a bit short with me when I asked to use a pen to fill out my play slip. And I have had less than favorable experiences at another convenience store near my house. So if I can purchase a few tickets per draw in addition to my regular subscription, I will be the first one to stop buying tickets at any convenience store.
No once we, the people boot him out of the WH, he is likely to get on the first plane headed to Kenya after he hands off the keys to Mitt. I hear several African countries are having elections, and you know it is there where he can get into a position of power and stay there until the next coup occurs.
I DON'T CARE. As long as I WIN! Go ahead, post my name. I would go outta town anyway.
If you don't advertise it or flaunt it you will be OK.
There is a ton of remote property out there. All that they would know is I'm retired. And if I'm on 75 or 160 or 500 acres they wouldn't find me.
Lotto gets pretty big sometimes.
I hope that they add Little Lotto soon.
I made $1,590 from Illinois lotto once.
The article is kinda vague, so you buy "tickets" online with out actually having the physical ticket? Sounds like trouble waiting to happen if that's how it goes.
People play online now. They might not do it in the states but they have to give their ss#, driver's license, bank account info too. At least I would be giving it to someone I could understand and if I am going to get stiffed, it may as well be an American to do it. Millions and billions pour out of this country everyday for heading for illegal gambling sites everywhere so that doesn't seem to stop folks. I don't see the big deal. If it comes to TN, I will have it. Oh, I forgot, the Republicans might not let us have it. They want us to spend our money at their businesses.
If anything, it'll only speed up the inevitable. I'm not familiar with the IL Lottery rules, but in many
(if not most) states, their lottery laws permit them from publishing your name and likeness, as well
as publishing an accompanying press release related to the amount of money you won, the game that
it was won on, when, and where you purchased the ticket. By simply purchasing a lottery ticket in these
states you are agreeing to these conditions. There's no "opting out" either. You don't have to volunteer
any info, pic, or press conference related to any large win, but then that leaves it open for them to attempt
to locate a picture of you (weather flattering or not) if they wish to include it in their own press release related
to any win they may wish to promote. And with or without your consent or knowledge, they will still publish
the relevent info I stated earlier. If one is concerned about them immediately knowing that you won, it's probably
better to avoid buying these tickets online. Oh, and in response to another comment, I'd check that state lottery rules
when it comes to finding out if an online sale is any form of a legal proof of purchase. You'd probably STILL need the physical
ticket for validation, especially in National games like PowerBall and MegaMillions, which are not individually run by each state,
since you'd be collecting the winnings of money from tickets purchased in other states. Mega and Powerball have their own rules
for ticket validation procedures that superceed any state laws that are different for their own state games.
"...Republicans might not let us have it."
You're right, Littleoldlady, we gotta get them RINO Republicans outta there, especially Senator Corker.
Vote for Zach Poskevich and we will move toward Constitutional government.
And when we have Constitutional Government, they'll stop sticking their nose where it doesn't belong.
They have no obligation, right or authority to tell us what to do.
I'm with you on that.
Which are the other 21 states considering online games?
Hi Zinniagirl! The Illinois Lottery will not automatically announce any names as winners, all player information is kept confidential.
Prizes will be automatically deposited into your account for winnings less than $600. When you sign up you’ll receive an Illinois Lottery Visa Debit Card that is associated to your account.
There are a few options to manage your winnings:
a. You can transfer your winnings to your personal checking or savings account.
b. You can use your Illinois Lottery Visa Debit Card like you normally would use a debit card.
Winnings over $600 will be processed by the Illinois Lottery Claims department. You’ll receive an email to notify them to complete the claim process.
Yes prizes will be deposited to your account, let us not forget the taxes!
I posted this before the play online rules were posted to Illinois Lottery website. I was partially right and partially wrong. You DON'T have to link your bank account in order to play, but you CAN do that if you so desire. I will opt to continue paying in manner I did before. But the convenience stores are lucky only MegaMillions and Lotto can be played in this manner, so they will still get the scratch-off, Pick 3 and Pick 4, Little Lotto and Powerball players coming to their stores to play those games.
I love you Illinois! But I have $225 million reasons to love MegaMillions MORE! If I win, I will be sure to mention that during my press conference!
May my God who is my provider bless my tickets!
So how does the online thing work? Do you print a copy your numbers that you bought? Just wondering because with out any physical proof of the purchase what happens if something gets lost. The reason im sayin this is there have been a couple of times ive set up payment for my credit card confirmed it got a reference number but my payment never got taken out of my bank. The transaction was lost and customer service didnt know why. Never got charged any late fees or anything because I caught it early but without a physical ticket or something I would be skeptical
Only offered to Illinois residents?
Darn. I was hoping that out-of-towners could take advantage of the convienence of online lottery tickets. While I can see their point...darn!
I would never buy tickets online ......