SOUTHAVEN, Miss. (localmemphis.com) – Until Monday, people in the Magnolia State had to go to Tennessee or Arkansas for their lottery fix. The launch of Mississippi’s lottery offers something most other states don’t. The ability to buy tickets with a credit card.
“Everybody was buying scratch-offs, so I was like ‘hey let me try a couple’ and I actually won,” said player Misty Hungate, who won $50 Monday.
Buyers can purchase with a credit card, unlike in neighboring states. That’s a gamble a credit counseling expert says could hit families who are already struggling with debt hard.
“It’s an entertainment expense, it’s not something that you’re likely to get any kind of realistic return on,” said Bruce McClary, with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. “It’s a loss, you’re basically lightning your money on fire when you’re buying these lottery tickets.”
If you’re using your credit card to buy scratch-off tickets in Mississippi, you want to make sure it’s an expense that doesn’t get out of hand, because it could end up putting you further in debt. Gas stations are selling tickets from $1 to $5, but most players come in to buy a stack of them.
McClary says about 6.5 million Americans are suffering from addictive gambling. Among those a number can’t stop playing scratch cards. Add that to the fact the U.S. Census Bureau reports Mississippi having one of the highest rates of poverty.
“When you have ready access to credit and you don’t have enough cash to cover an expense,” said McClary. “Anytime you have a situation where you have an impulse buy, it’s a recipe for disaster.”
It’s also important to note, buying lottery tickets with a credit card does not count toward reward point programs.The Mississippi lottery will start selling Mega Millions and Powerball tickets January 30, 2020.