Time is running out to buy Mega Millions tickets for the $1.1 billion jackpot. So many gamblers are rerouting themselves to iLotteries and apps like Jackpocket to pick their numbers for the Aug. 1 drawing.
Most lottery game ticket purchasers will still head to retail locations tonight before the Mega Millions drawing at 11 p.m.
However, it’s becoming more popular to use online resources like the lottery ticket courier’s site. That’s especially the case when a considerable jackpot captivates public interest.
For instance, Ohians’ ticket orders increased 168% over last month, Jackpocket CEO and Founder Peter Sullivan told Bonus today.
He detailed a few more month-over-month increases for Bonus today:
- Arizona sales were up 128%
- Texans ordered 121% more tickets
- New Jersey saw purchases rise 88%
- New Yorkers bought 82% more tickets
Sullivan told Bonus today:
We’ve seen historic jackpot levels for both Powerball and Mega Millions this year. We can anticipate that with some of the changes in drawing frequency and innovators in the space, like Jackpocket, impactful moments for the industry will continue to arise.
UPDATE: 08/09/2023
A Florida winner is taking home a record $1.58 billion Mega Millions jackpot. Only Powerball has outdone that total.
The possible cash prize from last night’s drawing was $783.3 million.
The reaction on Twitter was swift, with many joking that former President Donald Trump won. (Mar-a-Lago is in Palm Beach.)
Others had reactions more like this:
The winning mega millions ticket was sold 10 miles from my house. Unfortunately it wasn’t me 😟
— Jay B☘️ (@JustJayJax) August 9, 2023
UPDATE: 08/08/2023
No one won during Friday’s drawing. So the Mega Millions site lists an expected $1.55 billion jackpot to greet lottery ticket buyers during tonight’s drawing.
If a winner chooses to do so, picking the cash prize yields $757.2 million.
UPDATE: 08/04/2023
The Mega Millions jackpot sits at $1.35 billion hours before tonight’s drawing. A winner can also pick the $659.5 million cash option.
It’s now the second-largest Mega Millions jackpot, behind only the $1.5 billion total from 2018.
This Californian has goals:
I’m planning on winning the Mega Millions tonight and I’ll need an attorney and an accountant. Who’s in?
— ☮️ Two For Joy (@CKscullycat) August 4, 2023
UPDATE: 08/03/2023
The Mega Millions site still said today that the jackpot is $1.25 billion, with a cash prize of $625.3 million.
Before the drawing approaches on Friday, another lottery ticket courier is reporting increased traffic.
A spokeswoman for Lotto.com responded to questions from Bonus today.
Bonus queries are in bold and the Lotto.com responses follow, verbatim:
Which state had the highest ticket purchase rate on Lotto.com?
Texas sold the most tickets by far! By looking at the Mega Millions drawing on 8/1, Texas fulfilled almost double the orders of the next largest market.
How much did traffic increase on the platform?
The best way to showcase this would be through unique active players (UAPs) on Lotto.com. From June to July, unique active players on Lotto.com nearly tripled.
UPDATE: 08/02/2023
No one won the Mega Millions jackpot last night. That means the prize pot climbs to $1.25 billion today, with a cash payout of $625.3 million.
The next Mega Millions drawing is on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Powerball jackpot for tonight’s drawing is $95 million, but few Americans are talking about that on social media.
I’m so proud of everyone for collectively not choosing the Mega Millions lottery numbers 8, 24, 30, 45, 61 and 12. They are ridiculous numbers and we all know it. The best part is that we didn’t even have to ask each other – we just did it… together. And there is strength in…
— Jimmy Fallon (@jimmyfallon) August 2, 2023
Lottery Ticket Couriers Don’t Replace Lotteries
The increases for the company founded in 2013 in New York are happening despite the Empire State instituting a new advertising policy for lottery ticket couriers.
In February, the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) voted on new language for the companies. It means they can no longer tell lottery ticket purchasers that they can “play” the lottery on the apps. Commission members emphasized that sites like Jackpocket are intermediaries who still have to buy the lottery tickets.
However, only about a dozen jurisdictions offer iLotteries.
That’s why lottery ticket courier apps are flourishing. They offer online services when states don’t have them.
Jackpocket’s available in 17 jurisdictions. That oddly includes the District of Columbia, even though there’s a DC iLottery.
iLotteries Are Popular Where They’re Available
iLotteries gained traction during the pandemic shutdowns.
So the few states that offer online lottery tickets saw increases then.
For instance, iLottery sales in Michigan rose 88% during the year-over-year period ending in September 2020. So during the height of the pandemic, the Michigan Lottery experienced an 8% bump in sales. In total, lottery ticket sales reached $4.2 billion.
Meanwhile, Sullivan told Bonus today:
Jackpocket had its best month ever this July with monthly ticket orders 10% higher than the last record in November 2022 ([when there was a] $1.9 billion Powerball [jackpot]).
Jackpocket has now surpassed $1 Billion in ticket orders fulfilled to-date.
Jackpocket competitor Lotto.com didn’t return a request for comment from Bonus.
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