(a) It is an offense for any person, including a state lottery retailer, to sell a state lottery ticket or share to any person under eighteen (18) years of age.

Attorney's Note

Under the Tennessee Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
class A misdemeanorup to 11 monthsup to $2,500
class B misdemeanorup to 6 monthsup to $500
For details, see Tenn. Code § 40-35-111

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 39-17-602

  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Person: includes the singular and the plural and means and includes any individual, firm, partnership, copartnership, association, corporation, governmental subdivision or agency, or other organization or other legal entity, or any agent or servant thereof. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106
  • Proof of age: means a driver license or other generally accepted means of identification that describes the individual as eighteen (18) years of age or older, contains a photograph or other likeness of the individual, and appears on its face to be valid. See Tennessee Code 39-17-601
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • State lottery game: means any game of chance approved and operated pursuant to title 4, chapter 51, part 1, including, but not limited to, instant tickets, online games, and games using mechanical or electronic devices. See Tennessee Code 39-17-601
  • State lottery retailer: means :
    (A) A person who sells state lottery tickets or shares on behalf of the corporation pursuant to a contract or an employee or agent of the person. See Tennessee Code 39-17-601
  • State lottery ticket or share: means a lottery ticket or share issued by, or under the authority of, the corporation for evidence of participation in a state lottery game. See Tennessee Code 39-17-601
(b) It is an offense for a state lottery retailer to allow a person under eighteen (18) years of age to purchase a state lottery ticket or share from an electronic or mechanical device.
(c) It is an offense for a state lottery retailer to allow a person under eighteen (18) years of age to play any state lottery game.
(d) It is an offense for a state lottery retailer to redeem a state lottery ticket or share for any person under eighteen (18) years of age.
(e) A person’s first violation of this section is a Class B misdemeanor. A person’s second or subsequent violation of this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
(f) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section, which must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence, that the state lottery retailer reasonably and in good faith relied upon a representation of proof of age in making, or allowing, the sale or redemption.