Lottery From Home? New Jersey Residents Can Now Buy Lottery Tickets Via Courier Service
Ever wished you could have lottery tickets delivered to your doorstep?
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie made that dream an official reality earlier this month when he signed a bill that allows lottery tickets to be delivered via private courier. The new legislation is meant to “broaden the lottery’s customer base,” the Associated Press reported.
The bill makes New Jersey the first state in the country to allow private couriers to deliver lottery tickets.
New Jersey, of course, already allows people in the state to gamble at home via NJ gambling websites.
Tropicana, Golden Nugget and Caesars are among the casinos offering online gambling.
Couriers will only deliver lottery tickets
The state’s Assembly Democrats were quick to publish the bill’s success, noting that Assemblyman John Burzichelli was the bill’s sponsor.
The law requires the State Lottery Commission to register and authorize courier services. Their sole responsibility will be to deliver the tickets. These ticket-exclusive couriers will, by law, have no competition. It would be a criminal penalty to start a lottery courier service not registered and authorized by the lottery commission.
Couriers could also cash winning tickets
Under the law, couriers will also be able to “redeem winning tickets on behalf of customers.”
That provision comes with the caveat that couriers must take “proper steps” to ensure customers’ winnings are secure, and that the whole process is transparent.
Regardless of whether they cash out winners, all couriers will undergo random audits by the commission.
Lawmakers say legislation helps the homebound
The new lottery law will help New Jersey residents who may not have the freedom or physical ability to drive to the local grocery store to buy tickets. Burzichelli pointed out that residents who are homebound have many other goods delivered to their homes, including food, water and clothing.
“This bill is aimed at saving players’ time and broadening a customer base that provides revenue for services that benefit all New Jersey residents,” Burzichelli said.
Christie has vetoed similar bill
Interestingly enough, Christie rejected a lottery courier bill in 2015. At the time, he said that he didn’t think there was enough demand for this kind of service.
At the time, he told NJ.com he thought the bill would empower “fraudsters.” He also they would provide a means for them to “target the elderly and infirm.”
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