News writer
For years, lottery players in Connecticut have had the option to order their tickets online through lottery courier services. However, that convenience may soon come to an end.
A newly introduced bill aims to ban these third-party lottery couriers altogether, citing concerns over transparency and consumer protection. If passed, the bill would leave services like Jackpocket out in the cold.
A new bill is introduced in Connecticut
The new bill, SB 1235, was introduced by Connecticut's General Assembly. They have concerns about these lottery courier services not being subject to the Connecticut Lottery's oversight since they are not included in the state lottery's framework.
In SB 1235, it would ban these lottery courier services from the state. The bill states that “no person shall operate a ticket courier service in this state.”
Lawmakers are viewing this as a way to protect consumers and they are concerned about a lack of transparency when it comes to state tax enforcement.
The bill was just introduced, so it must be approved by the Committee on General Law, which would then pass it over to the House for approval. If approved by the House, it gets sent over to the Senate for approval. If approved by the Senate, the bill would head to the desk of Gov. Ned Lamont, who could either sign the bill into law or veto it and send it back to the General Assembly. At any time during this process, the bill could be amended or scrapped altogether.
If this bill passes and the governor signs it into law as is, it would leave the Connecticut State Lottery as the only legal iLottery provider in the state.
What are lottery courier services?
If you aren't familiar with the term, a lottery courier service is a service that allows for the purchase of lottery tickets online on behalf of someone else.
A popular ticket courier is Jackpocket.com, which did sell a jackpot-winning ticket in Arizona recently. Jackpocket allows users to create an account with the company and then they deposit money into their account, which they use to order lottery tickets from a lottery retailer within the jurisdiction that Jackpocket is operating in.
Jackpocket then has physical offices and staff in the state. This staff is responsible for buying the tickets for these players and paying out any winnings that may happen.
These lottery courier service providers are responsible for making sure they comply with each individual state law in terms of age verification and geolocation. These couriers can only provide service to customers who are located within the state where the courier is present.
More pushback on lottery courier services
Connecticut isn't the only state that is pushing back on these providers. In New Jersey and New York, they are officially regulated by the state lotteries in each state.
In Texas, the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe urged the state to crack down on these couriers. They stated the couriers are essentially a part of the online gambling ecosystem.
The letter by the tribe:
These lottery courier services are operating contrary to the law and represent a significant expansion of gambling in the state. As such, they must be prohibited from operating.
Enjoy playing the Connecticut Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
Comments