The Colorado Lottery Commission has decided to make a significant change to its rules by allowing players to buy tickets with credit cards and allowing players to buy tickets online. This has proven to be a controversial decision, with some praising the convenience it offers and others critiquing the risks it entails.
The Changes Face Pushback
According to reports, the divisive new rules were approved on November 20. While the credit card rule theoretically permits the lottery to allow players to pay for tickets via credit cards, such payment options are still not available. CBS Colorado suggested that credit card payments may not be implemented for months.
In any case, the decision to allow players to purchase tickets using credit cards has proven quite controversial, facing bipartisan pushback. While proponents’ main argument was that it would make the lottery more convenient and easily accessible, opponents asserted that it would expose players to greater risk of harm by allowing them to gamble with money they don’t have.
As of the time of this writing, dozens of states allow users to purchase lottery tickets with credit cards. While gambling on credit is generally frowned upon, lower-risk verticals such as lottery gaming have remained an exception in many markets.
In the meantime, the Colorado Lottery Commission also allowed for the online sale of lottery tickets, further nuancing the situation.
The Colorado Lottery Backed the Changes
Tom Seaver, the Colorado Lottery’s senior director, was supportive of the latest changes. In an interview with CBS News, he said that the decisions to allow online ticket purchases and purchases via credit cards respond to consumer demand. According to Seaver, it is the lottery’s responsibility to give players what they want.
Seaver emphasized that, as mentioned, the usage of credit cards has not been implemented yet and will take some time. He promised that the lottery will do everything it can to make sure that consumers are protected from gaming and financial harm.