HB389 - Relating to a lottery game played or facilitated for play by telephone or through an Internet or mobile Internet application; creating criminal offenses.

  89R4161 BEE-D     By: Shaheen H.B. No. 389       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a lottery game played or facilitated for play by   telephone or through an Internet or mobile Internet application;   creating criminal offenses.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 466.015(b), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (b)  The commission shall adopt rules to the extent they are   not inconsistent with Chapters 551 and 552 governing the:                (1)  security for the lottery and the commission,   including the development of an internal security plan;                (2)  apportionment of the total revenues from the sale   of tickets and from all other sources in the amounts provided by   this chapter;                (3)  enforcement of prohibitions on the sale of tickets   to or by an individual younger than 18 years of age; and                (4)  enforcement of prohibitions on a person playing or   facilitating the play of a lottery game by telephone or through an   Internet application or mobile Internet application in violation of   Section 466.318 .          SECTION 2.  Subchapter G, Chapter 466, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 466.318 to read as follows:           Sec.   466.318.     PLAY OR FACILITATING PLAY BY TELEPHONE OR BY   INTERNET OR MOBILE INTERNET APPLICATION. (a)   A person may not by   telephone or through an Internet application or mobile Internet   application:                 (1)     purchase or order the purchase of a ticket for a   lottery game; or                 (2)  for compensation:                       (A)     accept an order for a ticket for a lottery   game from a player;                       (B)     sell a ticket for a lottery game to a player;   or                       (C)  arrange:                             (i)     to purchase a ticket on behalf of a   person playing a lottery game; or                             (ii)     for another person to purchase a   ticket on behalf of a person playing a lottery game.           (b)     A person commits an offense if the person violates this   section.           (c)     An offense under Subsection (a)(1) is a Class C   misdemeanor.           (d)     An offense under Subsection (a)(2) is a Class A   misdemeanor.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.