N.J. may take a chance on delivering lottery tickets by courier

New Jersey residents could have a new way to buy lottery tickets.

A bill awaiting final approval in the Assembly would allow customers to register with a courier service, use a credit card to purchase lottery tickets, and have any winning tickets delivered to cash in.

Attorney Lloyd Levinson, who helped develop gaming laws in New Jersey, said the courier service would increase lottery sales without hurting retailers.

“The ages of 18 to 29 who don’t buy tickets will buy tickets. They’re not going into the retail locations and buying tickets. They buy everything with their personal device,” Levinson said.

Sal Risalvato, who represents gasoline stations and convenience stores, said owners are worried about losing business. When there are big jackpots, people who usually don’t play the lottery come in to buy tickets, he said.

“They experience huge amounts of sales of affiliated products and ancillary items,” Risalvato said. “Internet lottery takes that away and it doesn’t matter what age category.”

Assemblyman John Burzichelli said the measure could boost slumping lottery sales.

“We have an interest in our lottery doing better. General revenue has been declining as lotteries have all across the country because of enhanced competition with other things we’ve done like internet gambling, for example,” said Burzichelli, D-Gloucester.  “So we’re anxious for the lottery to reach its full potential, and, for it to do that, it’s got to have an access from the internet side.”