In March of 2012, the Illinois Lottery will allow consumers to purchase tickets on-line. The sales will be limited to the amount of tickets available per customer and only offered to Illinois residents who are over 18-years-old.
While some are thrilled to hear they will not need to walk to the local convenience store to buy tickets, shop owners are not happy. Store owners currently receive a portion of the profits and a piece of the pie when a winner surfaces. If we can now buy them on-line, who will split the winning pot? Probably the state…
Others complained this will create an extra outlet for gamblers and offer less oversight for underage purchases. They may be right, but the state needs money and probably does not care. It is expected to increase revenue by millions, and I have to say it would have helped me tonight. I waited too late to run out and get that $206 million dollar winning ticket!
UPDATE 12/28/11 – There was a winner of the $206M (Mega Million)…darn and it was not me.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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