The state of Florida could become the eighth state in the country to legalize online lottery says, a form of web gambling that has seen more traction than online poker.
According to the Sun Sentinel, a bill was recently filed by state Sen. Gwen Margolis, D-Coconut Grove. Florida has been home to some intense debates surrounding expansion of gambling related to brick-and-mortar casinos.
From the report:
Margolis said the added revenue from online lottery would far outweigh any new revenue the state would get by bringing a resort casino to South Florida. The Las Vegas Sands Corp. has lobbied heavily in Tallahassee to bring a casino to Florida as part of the upcoming gambling compact negotiations with the Seminole tribe.
Florida has had a lotto since 1988 and it has had revenues of $27 billion during that time.
Other states with online lotteries include Oklahoma, Illinois and Michigan.
The December 2011 Department of Justice re-interpretation of the decades-old Wire Act allowed for U.S. states to pursue online lotto sales, in addition to other forms of online gambling.
Just three states—Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware—have online poker industries.
