Minnesota Lottery pulls instant scratch games from site

Bill forcing the lottery to “suspend” some of its online games has passed into law without Governor Mark Dayton’s signature

The Minnesota Lottery has been forced to suspend the sale of online instant-win scratch cards after a bill seeking to block the games passed into law last week. [private]

Lawmakers in the state voted 56-8 in favor of the measure, with Governor Mark Dayton allowing the bill to pass into law without his signature.

The move is a massive step back for the Minnesota Lottery and the egaming industry in general, and will undoubtedly raise fears a similar scenario could be repeated in other states.

It has also raised questions about how contracts between the lottery and the platform and game suppliers will be terminated, and at what cost.

The only upside is that the Lottery can continue to sell tickets for draw-based games over the internet, and director Ed Van Petten told eGR NA they would “convert to having some freeplay games” instead.

The battle between disgruntled lawmakers and the state lottery has been going on for some time, with a similar bill passing through the Senate last year before being vetoed by Dayton.

The lottery launched its online instant win games back in February 2014, and sold more than 1,000 scratch cards within the first week.

In an exclusive interview with eGR NA Van Petten said the decision to move online was vital for the Lottery to “survive the future.”