Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton spares online scratch cards, for now

The strategy gives lottery director Ed Van Petten, a supporter of online ticket sales and scratch cards, a way to boost sales and access new demographics, as well as breathing space to persuade lawmakers that the expansion is worthy of support.

Van Petten has been in a running fight with a strong political faction in the legislature over his decision a year ago to introduce online scratch cards, which have shown to be popular. Van Petten has been at pains to educate lawmakers on the issue and reassure them that going online will not have a cataclysmic impact on problem gambling, but some of them remain implacably opposed.

Towards the end of the legislative season these elements managed to push through legislation halting the scratch card project and online ticket sales, which Gov. Markell subsequently vetoed, prompting politicians to start preparing another attack on the lottery for launch when the 2015 legislature convenes.

The lottery director has revealed that more than 31,000 additional players have purchased the lottery’s online products since their introduction a year ago, with over a quarter of these in the important under- 35 demographic critical to the future development of the lottery. He also pointed out that none of the negative predictions made by politicians who are against online operations have come to pass.

Nevertheless, Van Petten appears to have a mountain to climb in coaxing some political leaders around to his point of view; Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, a strong opponent of online gambling, remains opposed to the idea and is on record as opining that no amount of persuasion will change his position.

Legislators across the nation hold widely differing views on taking lottery ticket sales online; Kentucky, Massachusetts, West Virginia and Florida appear to be actively considering the introduction of online sales, while Illinois, Michigan and Georgia have joined Minnesota in moving into the online environment.

On the negative point of the debate , Maryland has imposed a twelve-month freeze on any online initiative while the issue is examined more closely, and Colorado has implemented a bill expressly forbidding the state lottery from involvement in any online activity.