Illinois to become first state to allow online lottery sales

[AndreaGail]

CHICAGO (USA TODAY) — Illinois on Sunday will become the first state to sell individual lottery tickets online. It won't be the last.

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 MegaMillion 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 MegaMillion 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."

http://www.indystar.com/usatoday/article/53712208?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cp

[jimswift]

There aint no cheatin in video poker.

[osoab]

It should be noted, that this is occurring because they leased out the ILl lotto to a private company.

By the way Mega Millions is over 290 million. :o

[Carbon]

There ain't no cheatin' with computer-picked lottery numbers either - they've been using computers to pick numbers for years, even with paper tickets.

It's a suckers game.

Hard to believe the state when they say laws (like seat belts, drugs ... etc.) are for our safety and then they promote crooked gambling and become the house.

[Gaillo]

Lotto: Extra taxation for those who don't understand mathematics.

[osoab]

Lotto: Extra taxation for those who don't understand mathematics.

Hey, there's nothing wrong with spending 100 frns to win 50 frns.


I'm a winner! :D

[Gaillo]

Hey, there's nothing wrong with spending 100 frns to win 50 frns.


I'm a winner! :D

You're a weiner? ??? ;D

[gunDriller]

Lotto: Extra taxation for those who don't understand mathematics.

i think of it as high risk high return investing.


one of the other things i wonder is, what is God's position on the Lottery ?

does God intervene ever, to make someone win or not win, or does God completely ignor the Lottery ?

[osoab]

BATS IPO vs lotto. At least with lotto you know you will probably lose your frns.



http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/pictures/picture-5.jpg (http://www.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)
BATS Withdraws IPO (http://www.zerohedge.com/news/bats-withdraws-ipo)




http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/pictures/picture-5.jpg (http://www.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)
BATS Exchange Declares Self-Help Against... Itself; Trading Halted "Until Further Notice" (http://www.zerohedge.com/news/bats-exchange-declares-self-help-against-itself)



http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/pictures/picture-5.jpg (http://www.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)
SkyNet Is Now Cannibalizing Itself: BATS IPO Flash Crashes (http://www.zerohedge.com/news/skynet-now-cannibailizing-itself-bats-ipo-flash-crashes)




Presented with little comment - except the irony is simply too much to bear as BATS crashes from $15.75 to $0.038 in minutes...perhaps reflecting the WSJ article (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304636404577297840134760650.html?m od=djemalertNEWS)on HFT abuse and that BATS is being investigated for HFT abuse (ahem) on the day it goes public. We note that there were some trades executed at $0.00! The reason for the crash apparently is because BATS stock is ony trading on the BATS exchange, where apparently the APPL halt second before also happened. Pretty much tells us all we need to know about the stability of broken market structure. In other news, the stock, and exchange, have now been renamed BATShit - perhaps the VVIX can trade there next or something... And they wonder why nobody trades this farce of a market any more.

[osoab]

Mega Millions is 356 million for Tuesday. ;D

[solid]

does God intervene ever, to make someone win or not win, or does God completely ignor the Lottery ?

Reminds me of a joke.

Blonde woman who's financially struggling goes into a church, prays to God...please let me win the lottery!

Nothing happens.

Blonde goes back in again later, please help me God and let me win the lottery!

Nothing happens.

3rd time. Blonde goes in and prays to win the lottery. God responds. He says, meet me halfway, buy a lottery ticket!

[Down1]

Illinois lottery’s online sales generates $8,000 first day

By SOPHIA TAREEN Associated Press March 25, 2012 2:55PM

Online lottery ticket sales in Illinois are booming.

Illinois became the first state to offer online sales Sunday. The first ticket was bought by 7:03 a.m. more than 1,600 had been purchased through the afternoon. That’s more than $8,000 in sales.

Illinois Lottery Superintendent Michael Jones online sales make the lottery more accessible and will bring in more money for the state struggling with budget problems.

Those who want to play have to register and verify their age and location.

Online sales got a federal OK in December when the Justice Department reversed itself on allowing Internet gambling. Other states are considering similar programs and are closely watching Illinois.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/11523888-418/illinois-lotterys-online-sales-generates-8000-first-day.html

[osoab]

Mega Millions is now at 1/2 billion.

[solid]

Mega Millions is now at 1/2 billion.

I admit I bought a ticket for Tuesday's draw but lost. I'll probably buy a lotto ticket for the big one on Friday, just for the heck of it. Been years since I've bought a ticket.

What would you folks do with 1/2 a billion dollars?

I'd give all family members and close friends 1 million immediately. Buy all my coworkers rolex submariner watches, then take a year off of work...park a lot of the rest in PM's, then travel the world for a year being completely free. After that year, I'd have a good idea I think on what I'd do permanently. Probably go back to work actually, because I enjoy it!

[AndreaGail]

I admit I bought a ticket for Tuesday's draw but lost. I'll probably buy a lotto ticket for the big one on Friday, just for the heck of it. Been years since I've bought a ticket.

What would you folks do with 1/2 a billion dollars?

I'd give all family members and close friends 1 million immediately. Buy all my coworkers rolex submariner watches, then take a year off of work...park a lot of the rest in PM's, then travel the world for a year being completely free. After that year, I'd have a good idea I think on what I'd do permanently. Probably go back to work actually, because I enjoy it!

Just to be an asshole I'd probably give all the jerks i've encountered a couple bucks or maybe buy em a beer :D

[osoab]

http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/pictures/picture-5.jpg (http://www.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)
Mega Millions Lottery Pattern Generator "Hot Tip" (http://www.zerohedge.com/news/mega-millions-lottery-pattern-generator-hot-tip)



http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user5/imageroot/2012/03/Mega%20Millions_0.jpg

[AndreaGail]

http://i.usatoday.net/news/gallery/2012/n120329mega-millions/06lotto0329-pg-horizontal.jpg

Sierra Luchien, left, and Tammy Redlen celebrate as they walk into the Blue Bird liquor store after waiting in line for nearly three hours ::) to purchase their Mega Millions lottery ticket.

http://i.usatoday.net/news/gallery/2012/n120329mega-millions/07lotto0329-pg-horizontal.jpg

Hundreds of people wait in line to buy Mega Millions lottery tickets in Hawthorne, Calif. More:

[Down1]

What's wrong with a 60 million dollar jackpot ?
No lines for that.
Everybody go "Jew" around the nation.

[osoab]

http://i.usatoday.net/news/gallery/2012/n120329mega-millions/06lotto0329-pg-horizontal.jpg

Sierra Luchien, left, and Tammy Redlen celebrate as they walk into the Blue Bird liquor store after waiting in line for nearly three hours ::) to purchase their Mega Millions lottery ticket.

http://i.usatoday.net/news/gallery/2012/n120329mega-millions/07lotto0329-pg-horizontal.jpg

Hundreds of people wait in line to buy Mega Millions lottery tickets in Hawthorne, Calif. More:


I can't believe that these sheep can't find a place not to stand in line at to buy their tickets.

Is it sheep mentality to want to get in line to buy their tickets and share their dreams?

[AndreaGail]

holy cow...up to $640 million

if no one wins this time, it'll probably break a billion by next drawing

[osoab]

Illinois Lottery website down temporarily during Mega Millions sales (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-illinois-lottery-website-down-temporarily-during-mega-millions-sales-20120330,0,1042838.story)

[osoab]

Americans bet nearly $1.5B to win record jackpot (http://www.stltoday.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/americans-bet-nearly-b-to-win-record-jackpot/article_6c008ef0-7115-58c7-ae3f-8134bb8271c4.html)



The highest total I have seen is 640 million.

[osoab]

Good read and comments on Game Theory and the Lotto.


Positive Expected Value Lottery – We’re All Gonna Be Rich – A Game Theory Problem (http://kiddynamitesworld.com/positive-expected-value-lottery-were-all-gonna-be-rich-a-game-theory-problem/)

[Shami-Amourae]

Apparently it's worse in Britain. They even let little kids do it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yjJvQUR5Lc