Can you buy lottery tickets with a credit card - and what US states allow this?

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CAN you buy lottery tickets with a credit card in the US? And which states will let you purchase them?

Yes, you can buy from a growing number of states. Of the 45 lottery-playing states, there are 23 states that are allowed to take your credit card as payment.

However, in those states, not every shop will let you use a credit card, so you might have to look around.

It’s not that easy to walk into a gas station or local store to get your next prize-winning ticket, even online.

Not all gas stations will sell you a lottery ticket   Photo: Supplied

The remaining 22 lottery states either take only cash or request you use other ways to pay, like checks, debit cards, gift cards, and even PayPal.

States where you can use a credit card to buy lottery tickets:

  • Arizona.

  • California.

  • Idaho.

  • Illinois.

  • Indiana.

  • Kansas.

  • Kentucky.

  • Louisiana.

  • Maine.

  • Michigan.

  • Mississippi.

  • Missouri.

  • Nebraska.

  • New Hampshire.

  • New Jersey.

  • New York.

  • Ohio.

  • Oregon.

  • Pennsylvania.

  • Rhode Island.

  • South Dakota.

  • Vermont.

  • West Virginia.

States that DON’T allow lottery purchases with a credit card:

  • Arkansas.

  • Colorado.

  • Connecticut.

  • Delaware.

  • Florida.

  • Georgia.

  • Iowa.

  • Maryland.

  • Massachusetts.

  • Minnesota.

  • Montana.

  • New Mexico.

  • North Carolina.

  • North Dakota.

  • Oklahoma.

  • South Carolina.

  • Tennessee.

  • Texas.

  • Virginia.

  • Washington.

  • Wisconsin.

  • Wyoming.

What do credit card companies think about you buying lottery tickets with their cards?

Many don't have rules about it. But some big companies, like Citi, Bank of America, and Chase might process it like taking out a cash advance. This can mean:

  • Higher interest.

  • Interest starts right away.

  • Extra fees, sometimes up to 5% of what you spend.

Can you earn rewards on your card for buying lottery tickets?

Most of the time you can’t get rewards. If the company treats it like a cash withdrawal, you won't get points, cash back, or hit the spending targets for signup bonuses.

Why might it be risky to buy lottery tickets with a credit card?

Buying on credit can lead to debt. If you use a credit card, you might get fees and high interest.

When you add the cost of the ticket, fees, and interest, you're likely to spend more than you win.

Always be careful and don't spend money you don't have.

SOURCE: NerdWallet

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