A group of lawmakers in Connecticut are making a legislative effort to prevent online sweepstakes and lottery ticket couriers from operating in the state.
Rather than an individual sponsor, the Connecticut General Law Committee filed Senate Bill 1235, a measure that aims to ban lottery ticket resales and ticket courier services. The bill also proposes a ban on real or simulated online casino gaming or sports wagering for sweepstake operators.
SB 1235 has been introduced as online sweepstakes and casinos face regulatory scrutiny.
Last year, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) sent a cease and desist letter to Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), the world’s largest sweepstakes casino operator. The DCP accused VGW of conducting unlicensed gambling in violation of state law and fair trade practices. As a result, VGW shuttered operations in Connecticut.
The bill states it would ban sweepstakes that are not related to the sale of goods, services or property.
SB 1235 would allow the state to seize “any simulated gambling device that is used in a sweepstakes or promotional drawing.” Any violation of SB 1235’s rules would be considere an unfair or deceptive trade practice and subject to penalties for professional gambling.
A person who engages in professional gambling in the state faces a class D felony.
Lottery couriers like Jackpocket also under fire
The bill also prohibits the operation of a ticket courier service in the state, which is defined as a “for-profit delivery service operated for the purpose of purchasing lottery tickets for games.” SB 1235 bans online courier services like Jackpot.com from operating.
SB 1235 has been referred to the General Law Committee for further consideration.
Busy legislative session in Connecticut
Last month, Rep. Tony Scott introduced a series of bills that proposed changes to the state’s online sports betting rules. His measures include a bill that requires that state to offer two-way markets for all wagering. Scott filed House Bill 5564, which establishes a maximum hold percentage and he also aims to bring in-state college wagering to the state.
Rep. Christopher Rosario has also filed a sports betting measure that aims to authorize and regulate in-flight sports betting on scheduled flights that originate or end in the state.
U.S. residents and visitors are unable to gamble while on commercial flights but federal law allows sports betting at airports that are based in jurisdictions with regulated wagering.
Rosario and Scott’s measures have also been referred to the General Law Committee.
