The Minnesota State Lottery announced plans to go online with internet versions of its scratch-off lottery tickets. The lottery made the decision after examining the practice by lotteries in other countries, which have reported boosts in retail sales at brick-and-mortar stores after launching online versions of their games.
Lottery officials also say they hope to boost sales to younger state residents by going online.
Predictably, gambling opponents protested the move, saying it will increase gambling addiction. “Our state should not be involved in predatory gambling by encouraging families to take money from Main Street and blow it on Easy Street,” said Autumn Leva, spokeswoman for the Minnesota Family Council in an interview with the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Other critics claimed the lottery is doing an end-around to avoid legislative scrutiny in a state where lawmakers have consistently defeated gambling expansion measures. “The Lottery’s unilateral decision to expand online, without legislative approval… is an affront to the legislative process,” said Jack Meeks, president of Citizens Against Gambling Expansion.
