Anti-gambling group urges Massachusetts treasurer to change Lottery games

A national anti-gambling group has urged Massachusetts Treasurer Deborah Goldberg to implement stricter regulations on online Lottery games. The group, Stop Predatory Gambling, is particularly concerned about three games: "The Claw," "The Lamp," and "Prize Chickens." The group argues that the colorful themes and imagery of these games are reminiscent of entertainment familiar to children.

The organization also takes issue with the "free to play" feature, contending that it could entice young users to continue playing and eventually engage in real-money gambling. Furthermore, the group claims that without age verification, visitors could access the games without registering or providing proof of age. The Massachusetts Lottery's "The Claw" game features bright, arcade-style imagery, accessible without age verification.

Stop Predatory Gambling has called for immediate age and location checks on the games, comparing the situation to how Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell has approached online gambling platforms like Meta.