SANTA FE (AP) – You might be able to buy a lottery ticket in New Mexico using your debit card in the future.

The Senate voted 25-16 to pass a bill to move in that direction in an effort that supporters say will help boost lagging ticket sales and thus pump more lottery money toward college tuition scholarships.

The legislation eliminates a requirement that 30 percent of gross lottery revenues be transferred to the scholarship fund. It calls for lottery officials to transfer net revenues monthly for deposit into the fund.

The bill by Democratic Sen. John Arthur Smith of Deming garnered debate. Some lawmakers said it was risking funds that were required to be transferred, while supporters said allowing debit-card use would be good for lottery sales and bring in new players with money to spend.

Read more here:http://krqe.com/2015/03/04/nm-senate-oks-buying-lottery-tickets-with-debit-cards/