Editor’s note: This story was updated on June 5 to reflect the official launch of theLotter into the New Jersey market.
New Jersey will soon have a third lottery courier service option in the state.
During Thursday’s state lottery commission meeting, Executive Director James Carey Jr. disclosed that TheLotter.com will be coming to New Jersey:
“There are currently three approved carriers in New Jersey. NJ lotto doing business with the TheLotter.com was approved to be licensed as a courier in New Jersey. They have not started officially selling tickets. But, we do now have a third courier operating in New Jersey.”
TheLotter.com will join Jackpocket and Lotto.com as available courier services in the state.
The lottery courier officially went live in NJ on June 5. Peggy Daniel, theLotter’s US Managing Director, said in a press release:
“Our launch in New Jersey is a great milestone. Ordering lottery tickets online offers convenience and safety, and we’re proud to offer our services in the state, in addition to our operations in Texas, Oregon, and Minnesota, with plans to launch in New York very soon.”
Malta-based TheLotter.com hitting the US
TheLotter.com is based in Malta and has been allowing customers in other countries to play US multistate lottery draw games like Powerball and Mega Millions. It also offers lottery options for Europe, Australia, and more.
Now, the courier is starting to make its move into US locations.
Along with eventually coming to New Jersey, TheLotter.com is in the works to be operational in Minnesota, Oregon, and Texas.
Once live in New Jersey, residents will have the ability to purchase state lottery tickets through TheLotter.com. They will buy their tickets online and the courier will then purchase the ticket at a local retailer and provide the information to the customer.
Legislative bill preventing iLottery in New Jersey
The New Jersey Lottery Commission put the wheels in motion for iLottery to hit the state in 2024. However, a proposed bill was introduced in February aiming to prevent it.
If A3759 gets enacted, it would prohibit online lottery sales by the state commission.
In September 2022, the NJ Commission adopted a rule that would allow it to sell residents draw game tickets online. Instant lottery games wouldn’t be sold on the internet. That policy was expected to go into effect in the fall of 2024.
The proposed legislation to prohibit such sales reads:
“Not withstanding any other provision of law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, no lottery or type of lottery or lottery game shall be permitted to be sold via the internet by the State Lottery Commission, any entity of the State Lottery Commission, or any entity contracted by the State Lottery Commission.
“The State Lottery Commission shall not name itself, any entity of the State Lottery Commission, or any entity contracted by the State Lottery Commission as a lottery sales agent pursuant to the ‘State Lottery Law.’”
The New Jersey Assembly introduced the bill on Feb. 22. It was referred to the Assembly State and Local Government Committee. No hearing date is set as of yet.
Second bill declares online lottery against ‘legislative intent’
There is another bill, ACR127, that was introduced and referred to the Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee on March 18. This bill simply declares the new rules that would allow NJ to offer online lottery tickets are “inconsistent with legislative intent.”
If this resolution passes, the Division of State Lottery would have 30 days to either withdraw or amend the new rules allowing for an online lottery. Otherwise, the resolution says the state Legislature could pass another resolution to “invalidate the rule in whole or in part.”
Like A3759, ACR127 does not yet have a committee hearing scheduled.
March was seventh-highest month for NJ Lottery sales
March was a productive month for New Jersey in terms of lottery sales.
The state had $348 million in traditional lottery sales, up 15% from March 2023. This was its seventh-best performance in a single month to date.
The month was highlighted by a $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot ticket being sold in the state.
Other March game sales were:
- Cash Pop: $5.6 million, up 2.7%
- Cash4Life: $5.4 million, up 0.6%
- Fast Play: $5.1 million, up 4.9%
- Jersey Cash 5: $11.9 million, up 6.3%
- Mega Millions: $41 million, up 143%
- Pick-3: $33.2 million, down 4.4%
- Pick-4: $20.2 million, down 7.8%
- Pick-6: $9.2 million, up 96.6%
- Powerball: $42 million, up 236%
- Quick Draw: $9.3 million, up 1.5%
- Scratch-offs: $164 million, down 6.1%
For the fiscal year, traditional sales are at $2.7 billion. That is down 2.6% compared to last year, but still 1.8% over what the commission budgeted.
Photo by PlayiLottery
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