Other Criminal Charges & Offenses Are Lottery Messenger Services Legal in the USA

[Guest]

Are Online Lottery Messenger Services generally legal in the USA? I was reading an article online in which this developing industry is described. According to the article, "according to brokers currently operating in the field – the broker isn't actually offering a wagering service, but merely providing access to an existing one, and, as such, does not need to be licensed or regulated." I am wondering if this has held up in the United States, or is simply something that is yet to be challenged legally. I have been unable to find any relevant information.

 

[army judge]

Are Online Lottery Messenger Services generally legal in the USA? I was reading an article online in which this developing industry is described. According to the article, "according to brokers currently operating in the field – the broker isn't actually offering a wagering service, but merely providing access to an existing one, and, as such, does not need to be licensed or regulated." I am wondering if this has held up in the United States, or is simply something that is yet to be challenged legally. I have been unable to find any relevant information.

With the many LEGAL lotteries available, as well as LEGAL casinos; no one needs to waste their time with a useless service that could get them into hot water.
Is such a service legal?
Maybe, maybe not, buy a ticket take your chances.

 

[Michael Wechsler]

I have no idea why people will use such a service but it appears that they do. The answer is that a lottery messenger service may be nothing more than a messenger service if it is just a messenger service. There is no gambling activity being provided by the service of which I am aware. The largest service doesn't seem to take any cut of the winnings and it's merely a pay for the service of purchasing a ticket before the drawings and holding it for and delivering it to the purchaser and potential winner. Provided that the rules of the lotteries permit such a service, there shouldn't be a problem. But that's something you should be researching in addition to the law - whether contractually the lotteries you wish to service allow for proxies to purchase tickets in someone else's name. For the most part, I don't think this should present an issue.... but I wouldn't want my million dollar lottery ticket to be held by anyone else but myself well before the drawing!