Plan for online lotto sales irks gambling foes

Illinois, well known for its corruption, poor fiscal management and stupid ideas, never seems at a loss to make poor choices to compound its problems and that of its citizens.

Plan for online lotto sales irks gambling foes
By Cindy Wojdyla Cain

JOLIET — Illinois will offer online Lottery ticket sales this spring, a move some applaud because it will add cash to state coffers but others think is a terrible idea.

“We’re very troubled by it,” said Jerry Prosapio of Crestwood, who is co-founder of Gambling Exposed. “Any new form of legalized gambling has brought more addiction and with the addiction it brings additional bankruptcies and crime.”

Illinois Lottery Superintendent Michael Jones said online Lottery sales could bring a significant revenue boon to the cash-strapped state. Illinois gets 25 cents for every instant ticket sold and 41 to 42 cents for every Mega Millions ticket sold.

Research has shown online sales could draw 300,000 to 500,000 more players to the Mega Millions game, for instance, when the pot is $100 million or more, which happens 30 to 40 times a year, he said. The average player spends about $5 per game.

Spring launch

Jones said the online ticket sales system will have controls to limit play to people 18 and older and to restrict sales to within the borders of Illinois.

The Legislature approved a test program for online ticket sales back in 2009, but Illinois and other states had to wait for the OK from the U.S. Justice Department. The federal stamp of approval came last month.

Online sales should start in Illinois in March or April, Jones said recently. The pilot program, which will last three or four years, includes Mega Millions and Lotto.

The Illinois Lottery Commission plans to ask the Legislature for permission to add online Powerball ticket sales, too. Powerball, which pushed ticket prices to $2 on Jan. 15, wasn’t offered in Illinois when the legislation was approved, Jones said.

Customers will buy online Lottery tickets with credit cards. But a cash-only policy will remain in effect for ticket purchases at stores and gas stations around the state.

Jones said there will be a limit adopted that will put a cap on how much an individual can spend on one game’s draw. The cap hasn’t been determined.

“That’s why it’s a test,” Jones said of the pilot program.

He said the mandate from the state is to sell the tickets in an “ethical and socially responsible manner.”

Public’s reaction

Some Lottery players welcome the option of buying tickets online.

“It’s a good idea because now if you want to play, you don’t have to leave home, you can just play it on the computer,” said frequent player Lloyd Spender of North Chicago who had stopped into a 7-Eleven on Larkin Avenue and McDonough Street in Joliet. “When it gets cold out you don’t want to leave home.”

But others weren’t so sure online ticket sales would be a good thing.

Another 7-Eleven customer, Judi Palmer of Coal City said using a credit card to buy lottery tickets is a bad idea. She is afraid people will run up their credit cards or cause overdrafts on their debit cards.

“Keep it cash,” she said. “If they’re anything like me, if it goes online, I would definitely be overdrafting.”

Robin Pacheco, a clerk at Martinez Grocery II in Joliet, said she doesn’t think it’s a good idea either.

“It’s not going to help people who have gambling problems,” she said.

John Goodwin, manager of Joliet Pantry in downtown Joliet, said he thinks customers should be able to use credit cards to buy Lottery tickets at all locations, not just online.

“It seems kind of unfair you can use a credit card online but not at a store,” he said.

Gary Carter of Joliet, who lives just over the river from Joliet Pantry, said he won’t buy tickets online for an important reason.

“I need the exercise,” he said of the walk to the store. “I’ve got bad legs so I need the exercise to keep my knee lubricated.”

Addicted to revenue

Gambling Exposed’s Prosapio said he fears that kids under the legal age of 18 will be able to subvert the online ticket sales system to buy lottery tickets.

“They’re computer savvy,” he said.

The Lottery’s Jones disagreed. He said the technology exists to guard against underage players and out-of-state sales.

Prosapio also chided state lawmakers who OK’d the expansion of Lottery ticket sales to the Internet.

“The governor and elected officials were supposed to protect our citizens,” he said. “This is not going to protect people.”

The Legislature also recently picked a software supplier to help get legalized video poker up and running in areas of the state that haven’t opted out. Prosapio said video poker is one of the most addicting forms of gambling.

“There is just so much gambling in Illinois,” he said. “They call it gaming, but they have one goal in mind: to strip your money away from you in the fastest way.”

Jones said the real mission of the Lottery is to help the state generate revenues and to “get a lot of people to play a little.”

For more information on Gambling Exposed go to www.gamblingexposed.org, the Illinois Lottery’s website is www.illinoislottery.com.