Purchasing a lottery ticket — like a Jackpot or a Powerball ticket — may seem like a simple thing to do; most people are more concerned with the winning numbers than if they’re actually able to buy one.
However, some states have placed restrictions on how you can buy lottery tickets.. In fact, only 21 states allow you to purchase lottery tickets with a credit card.
Read on to learn more about where and how you can buy lottery tickets with a credit card, why some states have it banned, and why it may be better to avoid buying lottery tickets with a credit card in the first place.
Can you buy lottery tickets with a credit card?
How you canare able to buy your lottery tickets depends on where you’re trying to buy them. Several state laws prohibit using a credit card to purchase lottery tickets. Some don’t allow you to buy tickets with a credit card or a debit card. Make sure that you have another form of payment if that’s the case.
Only 21 out of 50 states let you buy lottery tickets with a credit or debit card. Those states are as follows: Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Indiana, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, and Washington.
Just because a state allows lottery tickets to be purchased with credit cards, scratch tickets or otherwise, people who sell lottery tickets (also called lottery retailers) may not accept them. Convenience stores like 7 Eleven, Safeway, and Walmart usually don’t accept credit cards as payment, either.
What's the reason behind the ban?
The primary reason for banning ticket sales with credit cards is to help citizens avoid debts related to gambling.
Secondly, six states don't have state lotteries: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada, and Utah. This is meant to discourage unhealthy competition. Gambling is especially frowned upon in Alabama, Mississippi, and Utah, three comparatively religious states.
4 reasons to avoid buying lottery tickets with your credit card
It may be frustrating that you can't purchase a lottery ticket with your card. But there are some good reasons to avoid doing this.
One: You won't earn rewards. Credit card reward programs don’t apply to gambling expenses. There’s no guarantee that you’ll earn a profit by participating, so cardholders don’t earn cash-back points.
Two: It might get you into debt. Regardless of how one chooses to define it, buying a lottery ticket is gambling. Due to the simplicity and ease of buying one, the temptation to spend more and more money in the hopes of winning a big prize can accelerate extremely quickly. Your debts can snowball within a matter of months, especially if you’re in the habit of buying tickets on a consistent basis.
Three: Charging your lottery ticket incurs additional fees. If you are allowed to buy a ticket with your credit card, retailers treat this type of purchase as a quasi-cash purchase, also known as a cash advance. Experts constantly advise against this; not only are you expected to pay a costly fee, but cash advances incur high interest immediately and rapidly.
The same goes for money orders. A money order is a certificate handed out by the government or the bank that is exchangeable for cash. You can use this cash for whatever purpose you desire, be it for groceries or lottery tickets, but money orders may also incur sizable fees.
Four: You'll make a higher return if you save or invest that money instead. Partaking in the buying and selling of low-risk stocks is a gradual but beneficial process. Your money will grow over time and you won’t be pinning all your hopes — and your future — on the rare chance of buying the winning ticket.
Unless you’re paying cash, it’s probably best that you refrain from buying lottery tickets.
Point's contributions
Buying lottery tickets can be exciting. Odds aside, the potential of earning a fortune from paying for a stub that’s less than five dollars seems like a pretty reasonable trade-off. But don’t fret; there are other ways you can generate and save money without running the risk of unnecessary costs or landing yourself in debt.
Enter Point Card.
Point is designed as a transparent, easy-to-use alternative payment card that allows cardmembers to exercise fiscal independence. Yes, you can buy lottery tickets with Point Card, but you won’t need to gamble when you’re reaping Point’s financial benefits.
All users have the freedom to spend their own money as they see fit while also receiving exclusive benefits. This includes unlimited cash-back and bonus cash-back on subscriptions, food delivery, rideshare services, and coffee shop purchases. You’ll have peace of mind knowing that your wealth is growing daily. That said, due to the rewards program, if you do wish to purchase a lottery game ticket now and then, you won’t have to worry about breaking the bank.
Additionally, Point Card comes with multiple features to help you protect your wealth, too. This includes fraud protection with zero liability, car rental and phone insurance, new purchase insurance, two free ATM withdrawals every month, and no interest fees.
You work hard for your money, and Point works hard for you in return.
Made to spend.
