Online lottery legalized in new Massachusetts budget [Video]

Massachusetts’ new $57.78 billion state budget authorizes the State Lottery Commission to begin online sales.Gov. Maura Healey signed the overdue fiscal year 2025 budget on Monday and authorized 258 of the 261 outside policy sections of the budget. One of those policy sections authorized the Massachusetts State Lottery to begin online lottery sales and raise revenue to support a grant program for early childhood education and care. Before online lottery sales can begin, the commission will conduct a process to find an operator for the online system. Lottery officials said they anticipate launching the online platform in “approximately 16 months.” “This will allow the Lottery to keep pace with its competition and reach newer audiences,” State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg said in a statement. Unlike lottery sales in retail stores, where the minimum age is 18, online lottery players will be required to be at least 21.Some opponents have called …