Wisconsin § 565.17 - Limitations on ticket and share sales and purchases.

Full text of Wisconsin Wisconsin Statutes § 565.17 — Limitations on ticket and share sales and purchases., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 565.17. Limitations on ticket and share sales and purchases.

565.17(1) (1) Who may sell. Lottery tickets or lottery shares may not be sold by any person other than a retailer or the department. 565.17(1m) (1m) Ticket couriers prohibited. No person may operate a ticket courier service in this state. 565.17(2) (2) Price. No person may sell lottery tickets or lottery shares at a price other than the retail sales price established by the administrator under s. 565.27 (1) (b) , except to the extent of any discount authorized by the administrator or the department. 565.17(3) (3) Cash sales. Lottery tickets or lottery shares may be sold only for cash. 565.17(4) (4) Age. 565.17(4)(a) (a) A person under 18 years of age may not purchase a lottery ticket or lottery share. This paragraph does not prohibit a person 18 years of age or older from giving a lottery ticket or lottery share to a person under 18 years of age. 565.17(4)(b) (b) No person may sell a lottery ticket or lottery share to a person under 18 years of age or to any other person knowing that the lottery ticket or lottery share is being purchased for a person under 18 years of age other than as a gift. 565.17(4)(c) (c) No person may pay a prize for a winning lottery ticket or lottery share to any person knowing that the purchaser was under 18 years of age or knowing that the lottery ticket or lottery share was purchased for a person under 18 years of age other than as a gift. 565.17(5) (5) Certain department employees. 565.17(5)(a) (a) Except as provided under par. (d) , no employee in the lottery division of the department or the secretary, deputy secretary, or assistant deputy secretary of revenue and no member of such a person’s immediate family, as defined in s. 19.42 (7) , may purchase a lottery ticket or lottery share. 565.17(5)(b) (b) No person may sell a lottery ticket or lottery share to a person knowing that the purchaser is prohibited from purchasing a lottery ticket or lottery share under par. (a) . 565.17(5)(c) (c) No person may pay a prize for a winning lottery ticket or lottery share to any person knowing that the purchaser was prohibited from purchasing a lottery ticket or lottery share under par. (a) . 565.17(5)(d) (d) An employee in the lottery division of the department may purchase a lottery ticket or lottery share if the purchase is on behalf of the lottery division of the department and is a part of an official lottery investigation. No person may share or assign a lottery ticket or lottery share purchased under this paragraph and no person may claim any prize or winnings from a lottery ticket or lottery share purchased under this paragraph. 565.17 History History: 1987 a. 119 ; 1991 a. 269 ; 1995 a. 27 ; 1997 a. 27 , 237 ; 2013 a. 20 ; 2017 a. 17 ; 2023 a. 73 . 565.17 Annotation A plan whereby a soft drink company would include a coupon for a Wisconsin lottery ticket with specified purchases and customers could redeem coupons for lottery tickets at retail lottery outlets would violate s. 100.16. 77 Atty. Gen. 303 .

Source: official Wisconsin text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Wisconsin § 565.17

What does Wisconsin Statutes § 565.17 cover?

Section 565.17 ("Limitations on ticket and share sales and purchases.") is part of the Wisconsin Statutes, the codified statutory law of Wisconsin. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Wisconsin § 565.17?

A common citation format is "Wisconsin Statutes § 565.17" (Wisconsin). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Wisconsin law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Wisconsin official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Wisconsin attorney.

How does Wisconsin § 565.17 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Wisconsin can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Wisconsin.