Are State Lotteries Handicap Accessible?
LNP Opinion | 5/14/2020
Legally, I'm sure state lotteries are in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). However, I think it is hard to argue that people with significant disabilities have true equal access to lottery games in states where one must travel to a store to purchase a lottery ticket.
An able-bodied person can walk, bike or hop-in their car and drive to the nearest mini-mart to purchase a lottery ticket. Not so easy for a person with a significant disability. For them a trip to the mini-mart (if possible at all) may require aides and arranged transportation to and from the store.
Disabled persons who reside in states that offer online lottery ticket purchases can play the lottery without having to leave their homes. As most already have internet access, the ability to purchase lottery tickets online provides true equal-access to the games.
As we have stated in other blog posts it's our opinion that all states should make sure that every person who would like to play the lottery can do so as easily and safely as possible. The best way to achieve that goal is to facilitate online lottery ticket purchases.
