Florida Senator launches fresh online gambling drive

Sen. Gwen Margolis, a Miami Democrat, is taking another run at legalising the online purchase of Florida state lottery tickets, having seen a similar bid last year halted at committee stage.

CBS reports that Margolis has reintroduced her bill SB 98 for the 2014 legislative session, proposing that the Florida Lottery to create a program allowing anyone 18 or older to wager on the lottery using the internet.

The Florida Lottery doesn’t offer tickets by mail, fax, or via the Internet, requiring tickets to be purchased from among 13,000 authorized retailers.

Florida is currently studying the wider gambling issue in the state, where many lawmakers are opposed to any expansion of gambling. Ticket retailers at convenience stores are also against any move online, claiming it will damage their businesses.

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