PROVIDENCE — Rhode Islanders hoping for a shot at tickets to the Michael Jackson Public Memorial Service on Tuesday got an unwelcome surprise this weekend: they were barred from taking part in the lottery.

Ocean State residents, along with those from New York and Florida, who logged on to the Web site for The Staples Center, the Los Angeles venue where the event will be held, read a notice that they were not eligible for the drawing.

State police and officials at the Department of Business Regulation were scratching their heads as to what prompted the exclusion.

Personnel at the Staples Center did not return calls for comment.

State police Lt. Frank Sullivan cited a state criminal statute that dictates that any lottery run in Rhode Island must be approved by the state police, but he could not say for sure that’s what sparked the exclusion.

DBR Director A. Michael Marques was also unable to shed any light on the exclusion. He said that no one from The Staples Center had contacted his department in recent days to discuss the issue.

(Cynthia Needham can be reached at 401-277-7045 or cneedham@projo.com)