PIERRE — The South Dakota Lottery wants to try selling scratch-off tickets in vending machines. The state Lottery Commission decided Thursday to allow a pilot project.

Ten machines will be placed in businesses in Pierre, Sioux Falls and Rapid City on a trial basis, according to Kelly Thompson, the lottery’s director of public relations and advertising. She said the locations probably will grocery stores.

“Each machine can hold 20 instant-ticket games. The pilot program is expected to begin in mid-December,” Thompson said.

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State law prohibits sale of lottery tickets to people under age 18.

Thompson said under-age purchases will be prevented at vending machines two ways.

She said the machine requires a scan of the barcode on the back of the purchaser’s driver license. Employees at the business will also be monitoring activity at the machine.

“If a retailer notices a customer approaching the machine or attempting a purchase and the customer does not appear to of legal age, they will be able to remotely shut off the machine. Then the clerk can physically approach the customer and card (the customer),” she said.