Online lottery courier services allow you to order tickets for popular games like Powerball and Mega Millions via an app or website. Many players find these services quicker, easier, and more convenient than physically visiting a store and buying lottery tickets in-person.
This guide explains precisely how online lottery courier services work. We will break down the key pros and cons of using these sites and discuss the differences between courier services like Jackpocket, Jackpot.com, and Lotto.com.
What is an online lottery courier service?
Online lottery courier services can purchase tickets for a wide range of draw games on your behalf. You simply need to sign up, make a deposit, and order your tickets through the courier’s website or app.
These services typically allow you to purchase tickets for local draw games in your state, plus multi-state games like Cash4Life, Mega Millions, or Powerball. You can choose your own numbers or select “Quick Pick” to be assigned numbers at random.
An employee of the lottery courier service will then visit a licensed lottery retailer in your state and purchase the tickets for you. A copy of your ticket will be uploaded to your online account prior to the draw, and the physical ticket will be stored at a secure facility.
If you win less than $600, the funds will be credited to your online account. When you win a larger prize, the physical ticket will be sent to you via a courier, allowing you to redeem your winnings in-person.
Benefits
Why do people use lottery couriers? There are several benefits to using these services:
✅ It is quicker and more convenient than buying tickets in-person at a convenience store, gas station, or any licensed retailer.
✅ You can use smart order options to ensure you never miss another drawing of your favorite lottery games.
✅ They offer bonuses and promotions for new and existing customers.
✅ Players can set reminders for upcoming games and prizes.
✅ You can team up with fellow players in your state to create online lottery pools or set up private pools with friends and family.
Disadvantages
🚫 The only real downside to using an online lottery courier is that you will be charged a deposit fee or a convenience fee. We discuss the fees in detail below.
Online lottery courier companies
There are currently five online lottery courier services operating in the United States. Jackpocket is the most widely available company, covering almost 20 states plus Washington, DC. However, it faces competition from some ambitious rivals, creating a dynamic market for online lottery players.
Jackpocket
Peter Sullivan founded this New York-based company in 2013. Jackpocket became the first registered lottery courier service in New Jersey and New York and has since expanded into many additional states and jurisdictions. In May 2024, DraftKings purchased Jackpocket for $750 million.
Jackpot.com
Jackpot.com is a large online lottery courier site owned by a Malta-based company named Lottomatrix Operations Ltd. The site initially focused on European markets such as the UK, but Jackpot.com made its US debut when it launched in Texas in January 2023. This lottery courier service is now live in a handful of states, and management has pledged to “continue on its path to digitize the lottery across the country.”
TheLotter
TheLotter was founded in 2002. Much like Jackpot, this courier service began outside of the United States. However, it came to Texas in 2020. Since then, TheLotter has continued to expand and is now available in several states.
Lotto.com
Lotto.com became the second licensed lottery courier service in the United States in 2021. The site initially launched in New Jersey, but it is now live in close to 10 states. The company, Lotto.com Inc., is based in Jersey City and focuses on providing a “digital platform for buying lottery tickets on any device, with no app download or deposit required.”
Mido Lotto
A San Francisco-based company called Lottery Now launched Mido Lotto in 2020. The app was initially available in California and then expanded into Delaware and Massachusetts. Players in about 10 states can now buy tickets for Powerball, Mega Millions, and local draw games via the Mido Lotto app.
Online lottery couriers by state
Online lottery courier services are available in almost half of all US states and the District of Columbia. The table below lists each state where lottery courier services operate, and it helps you find out which sites are available in your state.
State | Jackpocket | Jackpot.com | theLotter | Mido Lotto | Lotto.com |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arizona | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Arkansas | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
California | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ |
Colorado | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
Connecticut | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ |
Delaware | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ |
Idaho | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Maine | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Massachusetts | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
Minnesota | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ |
Montana | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ |
Nebraska | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
New Hampshire | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
New Jersey | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
New Mexico | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
New York | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ |
Ohio | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Oregon | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Puerto Rico | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Texas | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Washington DC | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
West Virginia | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Do online lottery couriers charge fees?
Yes, online lottery couriers charge fees. That allows them to cover their overheads and operate viable businesses.
Some sites charge a deposit fee when you fund your account. Others charge a “convenience fee,” which is a percentage of the ticket price each time you make a purchase.
The table below highlights the charges you can expect from licensed lottery courier services in the United States.
Courier Service | Deposit Fee | Convenience Fee |
---|---|---|
Jackpocket | 7% to 10% of your deposit, but it varies on a state-by-state basis | None |
Jackpot.com | Flat 15% fee on all deposits | None |
Lotto.com | 15% to 25% on deposits | None |
Mido Lotto | $1 fee on deposits of less than $20 | 20% of the ticket price |
TheLotter | None | Up to 30% of the ticket price |
Jackpocket has the lowest fees in the industry right now. You will pay a deposit fee of up to 10%, but no purchase fees or monthly charges exist.
The fees are higher at rivals like Mido Lotto, which charges a 20% convenience fee on each purchase. For example, if you buy a $2 Powerball ticket, you will pay $2.40. There is also an inactivity fee of up to $4 per month if you do not use your account for at least 12 months.
However, here’s the good news: None of the lottery courier services will take a percentage of your winnings. That means you always keep 100% of your prize money (besides any taxes, of course).
Are lottery courier services legit?
Yes, lottery courier services are legit. They comply with consumer protection regulations and deploy industry-standard security measures to protect players. They also have a strong reputation in player communities for paying out winnings.
We will delve into these issues in more depth below.
Do they actually pay out winnings?
You will be guaranteed a secure payout if you win a prize after buying a lottery ticket via a courier service like Jackpocket or Lotto.com.
Any winnings up to $600 should be credited to your account, and you can then make a free withdrawal at any time. If you earn a larger prize, the ticket will be transferred to you via a secure courier. You can rest assured that your physical ticket will be kept safe, as it is stored in highly secure facilities.
Many players have earned large payouts from lottery courier services. For example, in November 2021, a player in New Jersey won a $9.4 million prize after purchasing a Pick 6 Lotto ticket on the Jackpocket app.
Meanwhile, a player in Arkansas won $5.75 million after buying a Lucky for Life ticket through Jackpocket. According to the company, the app has delivered more than $500 million in prizes to players since launching.
After exhaustively researching player forums, we have only found a few examples of customers experiencing any hitches in the process. In each case, the player reported that the customer service team from the courier app or site made things right via refunds or even by paying out the winnings.
Is my information safe?
Online lottery courier services use industry-standard firewalls and encryption tools to safeguard players’ data and prevent unauthorized access. We have not found any reports of security breaches at online lottery courier services since they launched in the United States.
Just make sure you set up a strong, unique password. Do not share it with anyone, change it on a reasonably regular basis, and avoid signing into your account on any public computer. That should ensure you enjoy a secure experience using online lottery courier services like Jackpot.com and Jackpocket.