By Bob Katzen

This bill would impose the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax on the purchase of Lottery tickets. Currently Lottery tickets are exempt from the sales tax.

“There is a need to be somewhat more consistent, in retail business, across the range of commerce,” said private citizen Vincent Dixon who sponsored the bill under a state law that allows a private citizen to ask their state legislators to file bills on their behalf. “Many stores, with retail traffic, have a substantial part of their business, in Mass Lottery ticket sales which competes, with more traditional products and services, including convenience store availability of modest groceries, beverages and fading amounts of media publications and more.”

Dixon continued, “We know that gambling addiction is a reality and can be a burden on many, particularly lower income individuals and families. The modest charge of the sales tax on Lottery tickets may provide a small disincentive to excessive gambling. I think that we have likely expanded the range of gambling across the commonwealth, beyond a level, and a culture, than we should. If we are going to have such products, which is normal business, they should share normal retail taxes, in the retail economy rather than being a kind of bypass, from more productive products and services.”