| |
| |
|
|
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. |