Kansas Lottery to sell tickets online amid addiction concerns

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – The Kansas Lottery will begin selling lottery tickets online in late 2024 or early 2025. The lottery commission approved the new measure on Tuesday.

Scratch tickets, Powerball tickets, and Mega Millions tickets will be available for purchase through the Kansas Lottery website or mobile app, eliminating that extra stop at the gas station.

“Just as we were pleased to bring Kansas sports betting through mobile applications, we are happy to now be able to provide players this new opportunity under existing law,” said Stephen Durrell, Executive Director of the Kansas Lottery.

The Kansas Lottery said responsible gaming is always forefront when dealing with gambling.

Stephanie Roberts with the South Central Kansas Problem Gambling Task Force said the new way to buy lottery tickets will spike gambling addiction in the state.

“We are going to have many more people struggling because it’s a lot easier,” said Roberts. “There are plenty of people out there who think, ‘Oh, a lottery ticket is gambling.’ It is if you’re risking something of value to gain something of value. That’s the definition of gambling.”

Like sports betting apps, the Kansas Lottery said geolocation and age verification will be required before any online or mobile sales go live.

Full statement from Kansas Lottery:

The rules approved by the Kansas Lottery Commission represent another step in the modernization of the Kansas Lottery and to make electronic lottery product sales a reality for our players. The Kansas Lottery intends to sell popular draw games like Mega Millions and Powerball through its website and mobile app, as well as other games that Lottery players have been requesting for years. A provision in this year’s omnibus budget directing additional traditional Lottery revenues into the existing “Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund” makes this modernization effort even more timely.

“Giving our players the ability to purchase our products in this fashion is something they have wanted for a very long time”, said Stephen Durrell, Executive Director of the Kansas Lottery. “We are excited to be able to provide new games and purchasing options, safely and securely, for players in the state. Just as we were pleased to bring Kansas sports betting through mobile applications, we are happy to now be able to provide players this new opportunity under existing law.”

In regards to the step-by-step guide, that would be something we would want to talk about as we get closer to time. Obviously, responsible gaming is always at the forefront of our minds when dealing with our products. Just like the Sports Betting apps currently operating in Kansas, we will have best-in-class geolocation and age verification in place before any online or mobile sales go live.

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