Idahoans May Have to Pay Cash for Lottery Tickets

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Senate State Affairs Committee has advanced a bill nixing over-the-counter purchase of Idaho lottery game tickets with a credit or debit card. The committee approved the bill Friday and sent it to the floor of the Senate for debate in the final days of the Legislature. It has already cleared the House.

Republican Rep. Lynn Luker of Boise is among the leading advocates of the ban. Luker says the bill is a step toward combating the social costs caused with problem gambling by forcing customers to use cash instead of credit.

The bill has its share of detractors, including retailers and convenience store owners. Idaho Retailers Association lobbyist Pam Eaton says the bill essentially tells customers they can't use a legitimate form of legal tender to buy legal products.