Shaheen’s bill barring lottery tickets by phone or app

The text as introduced · 342 words

89R4161 BEE-D

By: Shaheen
H.B. No. 389

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a lottery game played or facilitated for play by

telephone or through an Internet or mobile Internet application;

creating criminal offenses.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 466.015(b), Government Code, is amended

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 play of a lottery game by telephone or through an

Internet application or mobile Internet application in violation of

Section 466.318 .

SECTION 2. Subchapter G, Chapter 466, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 466.318 to read as follows:

Sec. 466.318. PLAY OR FACILITATING PLAY BY TELEPHONE OR BY

INTERNET OR MOBILE INTERNET APPLICATION. (a) A person may not by

telephone or through an Internet application or mobile Internet

application:

(1) purchase or order the purchase of a ticket for a

lottery game; or

(2) for compensation:

(A) accept an order for a ticket for a lottery

game from a player;

(B) sell a ticket for a lottery game to a player;

or

(C) arrange:

(i) to purchase a ticket on behalf of a

person playing a lottery game; or

(ii) for another person to purchase a

ticket on behalf of a person playing a lottery game.

(b) A person commits an offense if the person violates this

section.

(c) An offense under Subsection (a)(1) is a Class C

misdemeanor.

(d) An offense under Subsection (a)(2) is a Class A

misdemeanor.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.