SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Plans to sell state lottery tickets online have business groups and Illinois convenience store owners concerned about their sales.

The State Lottery has revealed plans to offer tickets for sale as early as late March after a federal ruling opened the door late last year.

The Illinois Association of Convenience Stores and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association say lottery tickets bring in a significant amount of business. The sale of lottery tickets online could damage their business and increase underage gambling, says the groups’ statement.

The groups say implementing online lottery tickets too fast will raise many regulation issues for the state and will endanger 7,000 jobs at convenience stores.

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