The Pa. lottery will continue to operate almost as normal amid coronavirus pandemic; online play available

The Pennsylvania LotteryCourtesy image

Pennsylvania’s casinos are closed and the businesses that offer “skill game” machines have mostly all shut their doors, as well, because of COVID-19.

That means, for the first time in a long time, the state’s lottery system might be the only in-person gambling opportunity available to those who are interested.

Pennsylvania Lottery Press Secretary Ewa Dworakowski told PennLive on Friday that the lottery has not seen an uptick in sales, however, in the days since the spread of the coronavirus pandemic has shut down almost everything besides gas stations, grocery stores, pharmacies, hospitals, auto shops, banks, and a shortlist of other places that Gov. Tom Wolf refers to as “life-sustaining," many of which happen to be lottery retailers.

“Lottery sales typically rise and fall with retail sales,” Dwoarakowski said. “Because of this fact, we are seeing our traditional sales soften a bit during this unprecedented situation as non-essential businesses close and Pennsylvanians comply with the Governor’s request to stay home.”

Dwoarakowski’s email signature also includes an important reminder:

Please Play Responsibly. If compulsive gambling is a concern, please call 1-800-GAMBLER (800-426-2537) for confidential help.

Those hoping to participate in Saturday’s Powerball drawing, which has an estimated jackpot of $140 million, can still do so while following the pleas of Wolf and health secretary Rachel Levine to stay home by purchasing a ticket on the lottery’s mobile app. And, those who do venture out can expect to find scratch-offs and the other games the lottery has always offered, as there are currently no concerns about supply chain, delivery, or manufacturing issues.

There is one change to note, but it’s one many may not even be aware of anyway.

“As a precaution to protect our senior citizens and to comply with the recommendations pertaining to social distancing, volunteer senior witnesses have temporarily been replaced by a member of management from our broadcast partner, WITF,” Dworakowski said.

More of PennLive’s coronavirus coverage:

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