Indiana Bill Seeking to End Lottery Couriers Advances

Indiana has inched closer to introducing a ban on lottery couriers, following Texas’ lead. The measure currently needs the Indiana governor’s signature before it can be passed into law.

Lottery Couriers Under Fire

Online lottery couriers are services that buy tickets on behalf of players, effectively allowing consumers to play the lottery online. Such companies usually charge a fee but offer unparalleled convenience to those who are too busy to visit a lottery store.

However, lottery couriers have become the subject of controversy, with some comparing them to “unlicensed online gambling.” Others have expressed concerns about the integrity of state lotteries, since courier services can allow wealthy entities to make bulk purchases and dramatically increase their chances to win the jackpot.

This happened some time ago when a European consortium bought out all tickets for a lottery draw, securing itself a $95 million jackpot.

The Bill Seeks to Criminalize Such Services

In Indiana, lawmakers advanced Senate Bill 94, which seeks to prohibit lottery couriers. The bill is another attempt to introduce changes to the state’s gaming ecosystem following a failed iGaming and iLottery measure.

Per SB 94, for-profit businesses that buy or facilitate purchases of lottery tickets on behalf of players will be prohibited. Under this rule, such services will be considered illegal. Violators will be considered to be committing a Class A misdemeanor.

The bill also prohibits the Indiana Gaming Commission from operating or authorizing digital gaming services of any kind. SB 94 also includes provisions to tighten the lottery gaming controls, with the aim of ensuring the integrity of the state lottery.

This permanent ban on lottery couriers reflects Indiana’s general no-compromise approach to gaming verticals its framework does not permit.

SB 94 was quickly advanced by state authorities. It is currently heading to Governor Mike Braun’s desk for final review before it can be signed into law.

Indiana Is Not the First State to Crack Down on Couriers

Indiana isn’t the first state to crack down on courier services. This controversial form of lottery play has long irked regulators in Texas, who have proclaimed it to be illegal.

In Texas, an investigation into lottery couriers recently stalled the payout of a $83.5 million jackpot. The jackpot was won by an independent player who later said that she was being unfairly targeted. The anonymous winner insisted that she was in no way related to entities using lottery courier services to make bulk purchases and that she shouldn’t be penalized because of the investigation.

In the meantime, additional states, including New Jersey, Arizona and Connecticut, have also taken action to either prohibit or regulate lottery couriers.