You can buy a lottery ticket in just about every state, although many states had constitutional amendments banning lotteries until around the 1980s. State lottery laws outline the types of games allowed, rules and restrictions, age limits, how the revenue is used, and other aspects of running a statewide sweepstakes.
An official state lottery offers players the very small chance of winning an enormous amount of money, often in the tens of millions of dollars, by guessing a series of numbers. Most lotteries also sell scratch-off tickets that offer better odds at smaller prizes, which typically range from a free lottery ticket to a few thousand dollars. State lotteries are a way to raise revenue without raising tax rates, often promoted through a single cause, such as K-12 funding.
Alaska State Lottery Law at a Glance
There is no official, statewide lottery in Alaska, but the state may issue permits for certain games of chance. These include bingo, raffles, pull-tab games, even fishing derbies and mushing sweepstakes. Online gambling remains illegal in Alaska, but a 2012 law allows gaming activities to be promoted online.
The following chart provides additional details about state lottery laws in Alaska.
| Code Section | 05.15.100, et seq. (Currently, there is no statewide lottery in Alaska) |
| Distribution of Lottery Revenue | - |
| Additional Purpose of Lottery | The department may issue a permit to a municipality or qualified organization. The permit gives the municipality or qualified organization the privilege of conducting bingo, raffles and lotteries, pull-tab games, ice classics, race classics, rain classics, goose classics, mercury classics, deep freeze classics, canned salmon classics, salmon classics, king salmon classics, dog mushers' contests, snow machine classics, fish derbies, animal classics, crane classics, cabbage classics, Calcutta pools, and contests of skill. |
| Lottery Prize Subject to Garnishment | - |
| Time Limit to Claim Prize/Disposition | - |
| Prohibited Related Activities | - |
Note: State laws are always subject to change through a variety of means, including the enactment of new legislation and the precedent-setting decisions of higher courts. While we strive to ensure the accuracy of these pages, you also may want to contact an Alaska gaming attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
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Alaska State Lottery Laws: Related Resources
