Oklahomans vying to be lottery jackpot winners may no longer have to drive to their nearest gas stations soon.
The Oklahoma Lottery Commission confirmed to USA TODAY that it filed a request to create a digital platform for players. The commission said the decision is meant to enhance player engagement, improve services and protect both efficiency and data security.
“This is a transformational step for the Oklahoma Lottery,” Abby Morgan, the commission’s director of marketing and product development, said in a statement. “We’re focused on creating a best-in-class digital experience that benefits our players today while preparing for the possibilities of tomorrow.”
Morgan added that the “investment is about so much more than one product — it’s about modernizing how we connect with our players and operate as a business.”
The commission said the initiative will allow the future development of an iLottery platform, but emphasized that it was not the primary focus. The launch of an “iLottery business model” would require legislative approval, the commission added.
In the short term, the vendor will be tasked with improving the Oklahoma Lottery’s loyalty program, including ways players can check their tickets and scratchers.
There are currently 16 states with an official digital lottery service, according to Lottery USA.
Oklahoma digital lottery raises concerns
Oklahoma responsible gambling advocates told KFOR that they want the app developed with problem gamblers in mind.
The Oklahoma Association of Problem Gambling and Gaming reports that 6.3% of Oklahomans meet criteria for gambling disorder, and 23.5% of Oklahomans are at-risk for problem gambling.
“Those are huge numbers. And that’s one of the highest prevalence rates in the United States, is what we have here in Oklahoma,” Wiley Harwell, the executive director of the association, told KFOR.
Harwell also told the TV station that he hopes to see features that will help with gambling addiction, including ads for the state’s responsible gambling hotline and the Evive App, a “positive mobile health tool to reduce gambling harm.”
“We want people to reach out for help to recognize that this is potentially addictive and to, you know, play safely,” Harwell said.
Contributing: Anthony Robledo
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oklahoma lottery officials planning to develop digital platform
