TITLE: Relating to the prohibited play and facilitation of play of a lottery game by telephone or through the Internet.

SUMMARY: Relating to the prohibited play and facilitation of play of a lottery game by telephone or through the Internet.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the prohibited play and facilitation of play of a lottery game by telephone or through the Internet. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 466.015, Government Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-2) to read as follows: (b) The commission shall adopt rules to the extent they are not inconsistent with Chapters 551 and 552 governing the: (1) security for the lottery and the commission, including the development of an internal security plan; (2) apportionment of the total revenues from the sale of tickets and from all other sources in the amounts provided by this chapter; (3) enforcement of prohibitions on the sale of tickets to or by an individual younger than 18 years of age; and (4) enforcement of prohibitions on a person playing or facilitating the playing of a lottery game by telephone or through the Internet.(b-2) For purposes of this section, a person: (1) plays a lottery game by telephone or through the Internet if the person, by telephone or through an Internet application or mobile Internet application: (A) orders or purchases a ticket for the game; or (B) arranges for another person to purchase a ticket on behalf of the person playing the game; and (2) facilitates the playing of a lottery game by telephone or through the Internet if the person, by telephone or through an Internet application or mobile Internet application: (A) accepts orders for or sells a ticket for the game; or (B) arranges to purchase or for another person to purchase a ticket on behalf of the person playing the game. SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2024, the Texas Lottery Commission shall adopt or amend rules as necessary to implement the changes in law made by this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.