Minnesota’s Online Lottery Enjoys Soft Rollout

While Minnesota residents have been able to purchase lotto tickets online for several years, Spicy 7’s is the first instant online game.

February 11, 2014

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lottery’s online scratch-off game went live last week, a quiet opening that the lottery wanted to test before publicizing the new gaming option to the public, the Duluth News Tribune reports. “So far, it is working perfect,” said Lottery Executive Director Ed Van Petten.

The tic-tac-toe-like game offers players the chance to win $777 if they get three 7s in a row. A trial version of the game can be played for free, without a payout option. To play for money, users must deposit money into an account (spending a maximum of $50 a week) that can also be used to play lotto-type games like Gopher 5. Only people in Minnesota may play online. 

While Minnesotans have been able to purchase lotto tickets online for several years, Spicy 7’s is the first instant game that is available.

Van Petten said the game is aimed at attracting a younger audience, and he expects many of the new players to buy paper tickets at retail outlets. He said the Lottery’s goal is not to build an online scratch-game following.

“We look at it more as brand awareness, more of a marketing tool than anything, to introduce our product to a new demographic,” Van Petten said.

Gambling opponents see things otherwise. President Jack Meeks of Citizens Against Gambling Expansion said that Minnesota law does not even allow the lottery to set up online games. He said the state Legislature must approve it.

“When the Minnesota Lottery was written into statute and enacted over 20 years ago, no one could have imagined that technology would advance to where it is now,” Meeks said. “The lottery’s unilateral decision to become the first state in the country to wade into online scratch-offs without legislative oversight is just further evidence that the lottery is overreaching and proves we need legislation to clearly define what they can and cannot do.”

Van Petten disputed the charge and reaffirmed that existing retail outlets are his priority, as they are responsible for all lottery sales growth over the years.

Lottery sales are off 2.8% from a year ago, Van Petten said, and he’s hoping the new game can help make up some of that deficit. 

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