Quietly, with a legal opinion, the federal government cleared the way for online gambling Dec. 23. And race between states began to create games and generate billions in revenue, gambling experts and legal scholars say. Lottery checker

For decades, the Justice Department has opposed online gambling in all its forms. But according to the rules for online lottery ticket sales, the only thing illegal under federal law was sports betting over state and federal lines.

Now states are starting to sort out what to do with this potential tool to make billions. Lottery winning numbers

Washington, D.C., has already legalized Internet poker to be run by the lottery there.

According to some, even if at first, states will likely limit the games so only state residents can play; it won’t take long for states to develop compacts to form multi-state games and larger jackpots.

Whether the states or casinos run the games, states will be taking a cut of the money.

When New York Lottery Director Gordon Medenica received the letter from the Department of Justice he said he was happily surprised for it had taken two years to get this answer.

So, finally they are able to offer online subscription sales of Lotto and Mega Millions tickets and single-ticket online sales of Sweet Millions and Powerball.

“It is really up to the states and the policy makers within those states to decide what they can do,” Medenica said.

In New York, the plan is to be cautious and watch the market, he said.

Medenica said New York plans to add the single ticket sales of Sweet Millions and Powerball in the next few months will develop a computer system to sell those tickets.

As to whether the law allows instant online games is unclear. Poker and Quick Draw would require the legislature to act, Medenica said. Quick Draw is an online, instant game that is played in bars and other outlets licensed by the lottery. Patrons buy tickets and the winning numbers pop up on a TV screen every few minutes. Online games could transfer that game to laptops and smart phones.

“It’s something we need to study and stay open to the possibility and see where the marketplace goes,” he said.

As to slot machine games, those will be the most politically difficult for states to get online, since they are perceived as skill-free and highly addictive.

But with the economy struggling, states will follow the pattern of the past three decades, more money at whatever price.

As the states begin to make their decisions, the casino industry is trying to move Congress to create federal regulations to bind states. That way, casino operators wouldn’t have to deal with 50 different sets of laws, or lobby 50 different legislatures. The idea is for a single that already has gambling, like Nevada or New Jersey, to act as the regulator for the entire country.

What does the future hold after this door has been opened? In many people’s opinion, this is just the beginning.