TRENTON, N.J. — A proposed New Jersey Senate bill introduced Thursday seeks to ban the State Lottery Commission from selling lottery tickets through its website or mobile apps, halting plans for online sales scheduled to launch in late 2024.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Joseph P. Cryan, prohibits the commission or its contracted entities from acting as online lottery sales agents but preserves the legality of third-party courier services, such as Jackpocket, which are already licensed to sell tickets digitally under existing laws.
A rule adopted by the commission last year would allow the state to sell tickets directly to consumers through official platforms, a move advocates say could modernize operations and increase revenue. This legislation, however, seeks to prevent the state from competing in the digital lottery marketplace.
The proposed law reiterates that courier services, regulated under a 2017 statute, may continue offering online lottery ticket sales, ensuring services like Jackpocket remain unaffected by the prohibition.
The bill, introduced as Senate No. 4150, would take effect immediately upon passage and is expected to prompt debate over the role of state versus private entities in lottery operations.
The legislation could reshape New Jersey’s digital lottery landscape while keeping third-party services firmly in place.