Gambling
Mass. OKs online lottery sales. Here’s what you need to know
BOSTON — With the stroke of a pen, Gov. Maura Healey made online lottery a reality for Massachusetts residents Monday as she signed the fiscal 2025 budget. Now anyone 21 and older can play their numbers from the comfort of their couch or poolside, or on their ride home.
When will online lottery sales go into effect?
Sales will not take effect for at least a year or more.
Lottery officials have yet to place the contract to design the portal and the user experience out for bids. The earliest estimation of the functional online sales is predicted for the end of 2025.
Which other states allow online lottery sales?
Massachusetts will join a dozen other states that allow online sales of lottery, including neighbors New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. The other states are Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
However, Massachusetts gamblers can access lottery online through Jackpocket, a lottery courier app that services Massachusetts along with 16 other states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. According to Jackpocket’s website, lottery players in those states can place ticket orders for their favorite games using the app’s platform.
How will it work?
Online lottery sales are expected to mirror brick-and-mortar sales in terms of payments. Debit cards will be accepted but credit cards will not. Retailers have been accepting debit card payments for lottery purchases since 2012. Lottery sellers are paid a 5% commission on sales and a 1% bonus on winning tickets.
How much revenue does the state expect to collect?
State officials have earmarked $100 million to support child care and early childhood education, setting aside that sum for the Commonwealth Cares for Children grants. Overall, the online sales could generate as much as $200 million.
Is there an age restriction for playing virtually?
According to the statement released by the lottery Monday, virtual players will have to be 21, but in-person players just have to have celebrated their 18th birthdays.
Why now?
Officials have indicated that they want to offer players a “modern lottery experience” accessible in safe environments. They also hope to draw younger players to the games once they can make purchases using their phones.
Massachusetts has allowed the sale of lottery tickets since 1972. The lottery has generated more than $155 billion in revenues, paid out more than $109 billion in prizes and returned more than $33 billion in net profit to the state. Those funds are used for local aid to the commonwealth’s 351 municipalities. Retailers have earned $8.8 billion in commissions and bonuses through lottery sales.
Who opposed the online lottery?
The Retailers Association of Massachusetts and Massachusetts Package Stores Association opposed the launch of online sales to protect their membership of about 8,000 small retailers, convenience stores and liquor stores that have been selling lottery for 45 years and depend on the foot traffic it generates.
“We were disappointed that it was included in the final budget,” said Ryan Kearney, general counsel for the Retailers Association of Massachusetts. However, he said the association will “turn the page” and work to include its membership in the online rollout.
The National Library of Medicine has published articles on the potential dangers of online gambling, finding that due to the high level of accessibility, immersive interface and ease at which money can be spent, concerns have been expressed that internet gambling may increase rates of disordered or addictive gambling.
Problem gambling?
Massachusetts offers a toll-free Massachusetts Problem Gambling Helpline for people who feel they may have a gambling problem. Call 800-327-5050 or visit https://gamblinghelplinema.org to speak with a trained specialist.
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