ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The chairman of a powerful Senate committee has proposed changing the law to allow people to use their credit cards to purchase lottery tickets in New Mexico.
The legislation introduced by Democrat John Arthur Smith of Deming is aimed at boosting ticket sales to increase revenue for the struggling lottery scholarship fund.
New Mexico lottery and higher education officials told lawmakers before the start of the 60-day session that without boosting ticket sales, the lottery scholarship fund will not be able to keep up as tuition increases and demand for financial assistance grows.
Tapping into people’s spending habits will be key. Lottery CEO David Barden has pointed to efforts in Minnesota and other states where players can purchase tickets at the gas pump or online.
