“Today’s retail environment looks very different than it did even a decade ago,” Hudson said.
NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana may soon join a growing list of states allowing residents to buy lottery tickets online.
During a legislative meeting on Tuesday, the Louisiana Lottery Corporation presented projections showing that online lottery sales could generate more than $150 million in revenue over the next five years.
Lottery President and CEO Rose Hudson told lawmakers that the change could also mean a boost for Louisiana’s public schools, which have already received nearly $5 billion in lottery revenue since the corporation was established.
“Today’s retail environment looks very different than it did even a decade ago,” Hudson said.
But some lawmakers are wary that an online option could hurt local stores that rely on lottery ticket sales.
State Representative Alonzo Knox said many of his district’s convenience store owners depend on in-person lottery traffic to bring customers through the door.
“I have a lot of convenience stores — brick and mortar — that are really into this lottery,” Knox said. “What impact is it going to have on foot traffic within their stores, and how is that going to impact employees?”
Industry experts who spoke at the meeting said there are ways to include retailers in the transition, such as offering referral bonuses or in-store vouchers for online play.
At A&M Food Store in New Orleans, Ronald Wilson, a neighborhood regular, enjoys catching up with his people.
“I’m still coming here,” said Ronald Wilson, a regular player. “It’s the best place to play your numbers. They treat you nice. To me it would be boring just pulling your phone out.”
Store manager, Wajdi Kahla, said he hopes that kind of loyalty continues.
“It’s a family business,” Kahla said. “We love everybody here. It’s like a family atmosphere.”
No legislative decisions were made during Tuesday’s subcommittee meeting, but lawmakers said they hope to present a formal study on the proposal during the 2026 legislative session.
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