Massachusetts revives iLottery plans, mulls online gaming future

Massachusetts’ state treasurer has made good on her promise to reintroduce legislation that would allow the state lottery to take its action online.

Last month, state treasurer Deborah Goldberg (pictured) promised to introduce her new ‘iLottery’ legislation by Nov. 2. On Wednesday, Goldberg followed through, filing a bill with the state legislature that would allow the Massachusetts Lottery to offer draw tickets and online games via web and mobile device.

The bill’s text has yet to surface online, but the Boston Globe reported that the bill leaves most decisions on game types, prize sizes and such up to the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission. The bill would include problem gambling protections, including self-exclusion and spending limits, and would prevent funding online lottery play via credit card.

The bill would also seek to ease the concerns of lottery retailers by requiring the Commission to promote retail lottery sales. Retailers would be allowed to sell prepaid gift cards with which players could fund their online lottery accounts.