Lottery courier apps — services that let you buy a real lottery ticket from your phone — went from a curiosity in 2020 to a $1.4B segment in 2026. Jackpocket, Jackpot.com, Lotto.com, and Mido Lotto are the four that matter in the US. They all do approximately the same thing in slightly different ways, and the details actually matter — there's a 15% spread in convenience-fee costs across them and meaningful differences in which states they cover. Here's how they compare in 2026.
What a courier app actually does
You can't legally buy a Powerball or Mega Millions ticket from a phone the way you'd buy a stock or a pizza. Lottery tickets must be physical, sold by a licensed retailer, in the state where the game is offered.
Couriers solve this with a workaround that's been carefully blessed by state regulators in the markets where they operate: you place an order on the app, a courier employee physically buys the matching ticket from a real retailer in your state, scans both sides, and uploads the image to your account. The physical ticket is held in the courier's secure storage. If you win, they claim and remit; if you win big (over a state-specific threshold, usually $600), they hand you the physical ticket and you claim in person.
You're paying for someone to stand in line at a gas station. That's the entire business model. The fee they charge for that varies more than you'd expect.
The four apps, head-to-head
| App | States covered | Convenience fee | Min order | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackpocket | ~18 states | ~8–10% of order | $2 | Largest player; acquired by DraftKings in 2024 |
| Jackpot.com | ~12 states | ~8% of order | $5 | Backed by major sports figures; aggressive marketing |
| Lotto.com | ~10 states | ~5–7% of order | $3 | Lowest fees in most markets; less brand recognition |
| Mido Lotto | ~6 states (CA-focused) | ~12% | $5 | California specialist; charges highest but only option for CA SuperLotto+ via app |
State coverage is the binding constraint. Couriers can only operate in states whose lottery commissions have authorized them. In 2026, that includes (varies by courier): Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, DC, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington, West Virginia. Florida, Pennsylvania, and Illinois remain off-limits due to state laws.
Cost example: a $20 Powerball order
The convenience fee math gets meaningful when you actually buy something:
- Lotto.com: $20 ticket + ~$1.20 fee = $21.20 charged to card
- Jackpot.com: $20 ticket + ~$1.60 fee = $21.60
- Jackpocket: $20 ticket + ~$1.80 fee = $21.80
- Mido Lotto: $20 ticket + ~$2.40 fee = $22.40
The fee is rounded; some apps charge a flat per-order amount instead of percentage, and most run periodic "no fee" promotions for new users. Over a year of playing twice weekly, the fee difference between cheapest and most expensive courier is roughly $50 — meaningful, not life-changing.
What courier apps are good for
- Out-of-state convenience. You're in Texas (no PB ticket sales for residents to non-residents through couriers — but if courier authorized in your state) — you can play in-state games from your couch.
- Auto-play subscriptions. Set Powerball and Mega Millions to auto-buy every draw. Forgetting to play and then watching "your numbers" come up is the worst possible outcome of casual lottery participation; subscriptions solve it.
- Win tracking. The app auto-checks every ticket. You don't have to remember to scan or check numbers. Small wins ($1–$50) get deposited directly to your account.
- Group play. Most apps support office pools or family syndicates where everyone splits the cost and prizes proportionally. This is significantly easier than cash-collecting at work.
What courier apps are NOT good for
- Anonymity. The app has your name, government ID (KYC requirement), and payment info. If you win big, this information will be part of the claim file. If you're in an anonymity state, claiming through the courier may still expose your name. Check before you play.
- Tax planning. Couriers issue W-2Gs for wins over $600 just like any other lottery purchase. They don't help you with tax strategy.
- Out-of-state ticket arbitrage. You can't use a Florida courier to buy a Texas ticket. Couriers buy in-state, period. The advantage of buying in a no-state-tax state requires you to physically be in that state.
- Anyone outside courier-authorized states. If your state isn't on the list, you'll need to wait until it is.
Are courier apps actually legal?
In states where lottery commissions have authorized them, yes. The legal mechanism is that you (the player) are appointing the courier as your agent to physically buy a ticket on your behalf. You're the legal ticket owner the moment the courier completes the purchase. This is the same mechanism that lets you ask a friend to grab you a ticket — formalized at scale.
A handful of state attorneys general have pushed back, most prominently Texas in early 2025. Texas tightened the rules but couriers still operate there. Florida and Pennsylvania remain hostile, which is why no courier offers service in either.
Should you use one?
If you already play regularly, yes — the convenience is meaningful and the fees are small relative to the entertainment budget. Pick whichever app covers your state at the lowest fee; for most states that's Lotto.com or Jackpocket.
If you don't already play, no courier app makes the lottery a better bet than it already isn't. The expected value of a Powerball ticket is roughly -$1.30 per $2 ticket; a courier fee makes that worse, not better. Couriers are a quality-of-life upgrade for existing players, not a reason to start playing.
To check tonight's winning numbers regardless of where you bought your ticket, see the Lottery Atlas homepage. We don't take a fee — we just show you the numbers.