Statehouse News Bureau

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Ohio Lottery Says It's 'Essential' Under Stay-At-Home Order

By Jo Ingles

Published March 24, 2020 at 10:11 PM EDT

Ohio’s casinos have been closed for almost two weeks and it's been a week since bars were shut down, including those offering Keno. But Ohio Lottery tickets are still being sold, even under this week's new stay-at-home order.

The order, annouced over the weekend as the lastest measure from Gov. Mike Dewine and the Ohio Department of Health to fight the spread of coronavirus says only "essential" services are permited to be operating past 11:59 p.m. Monday. But the order doesn’t say anything about lottery tickets, which continue to be sold at retailers.

“The Lottery Commission’s operation is considered an essential government function providing funding of public education and our ongoing philanthropic efforts across the state,” according to a written statement from the agency. Those sales are limited to grocers, convenience stores and businesses deemed essential, it said.

But some cashiers say selling and redeeming tickets requires employees to hand them to customers with less than the 6-foot distance businesses are required to follow in the order.