NJ Assemblyman Proposes Bill To Allow Home Delivery Of Lotto Tickets

TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Lawmakers in New Jersey are considering a bill that would allow lottery tickets to be delivered to your doorstep.

The measure, which if passed would require authorization from the Lottery Commission, cleared the Assembly Tourism, Gaming and Arts Committee Monday.

Current state law does not address the courier delivery of lottery tickets.

Democratic Assemblyman John Burzichelli said the measure is aimed at broadening the lottery's customer base.

The lawmaker said his bill could make it easier for players who are homebound to play the lottery.

"Many other goods -- food, water, clothing and other items -- are already delivered in order to make people's lives easier,'' he said in a statement. "We have the means to add lottery tickets to that list.''

Burzichelli said he introduced the legislation after he was approached by a company interested in bringing the business to the state. He said he did not recall the firm's name.

If passed, courier services would be required to register with and get authorization from the state Lottery Commission before delivering tickets.

Businesses would be allowed to charge a delivery fee, but would not be able to collect a portion of a prize from a redeemed ticket. The idea was to prevent couriers from seeking lottery proceeds as a term of business, Burzichelli said.

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