The Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots have climbed to a staggering $400 million combined, which as you’re probably aware, draws the attention of lottery fans across the country since everyone wants a slice of a life-changing jackpot.
Powerball’s next drawing is on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, and up to an estimated $248 million, while Mega Millions has $165 million up for grabs tonight.
With undeniably life-changing money on the line, many people are turning to online lottery apps to purchase their lotto tickets without the hassle of visiting a store.
Fortunately for many, apps like Jackpocket, Jackpot.com, and TheLotter allow users to purchase official tickets from their phones. This makes it easier than ever to play and get your tickets before the deadline.
Whether you're hoping to grab a quick pick or carefully selecting your numbers based on whichever methodology you choose, these services provide one of the best ways to enter the drawing.
Buying lottery tickets has traditionally required a trip to a convenience store or gas station. In fact, approximately 70% of lottery tickets are purchased from such stores. However, online services like the ones we mentioned now offer a more convenient alternative.
Using an official lottery courier app, players can purchase tickets from authorized retailers without leaving the comfort of their homes. These apps work by having agents physically buy the tickets on your behalf. Once the ticket is purchased, a scanned copy is uploaded to your account as proof of purchase. You get all of the winnings whether it’s $2 or $200 million, the courier does not take a cut.
Signing up for an online lottery service is fairly simple.
Register. You’ll need to download an app and create an account. This process includes verifying your identity and location to ensure you meet the legal requirements to play in your state.
Fund your account. You’ll need to add funds to your account. These sites and apps typically have a minimum deposit of $10. Some apps charge a small service fee on deposits, while others add a markup to the ticket price.
Make your picks. Once you have the funds in your account, you can choose your numbers manually or opt for a quick-pick selection. Once your picks are confirmed and the order is placed, the app’s staff will purchase your ticket and store it digitally.
Winning works just as smoothly. Small prizes are typically credited directly to your account so you can withdraw the winnings or use the funds to buy more tickets, while larger prizes require you to claim the physical ticket to collect your winnings from the state lottery office. If you find yourself in the latter group, the courier staff will contact you to send your ticket safely and securely.
Since these apps do not take commissions on winnings, whatever you win is entirely yours and they do not make a dime on your winnings.
With multiple options available, it's important to choose an app that operates in your state and offers the best experience.
This is the most widely available lottery courier service as it operates in 18 states and territories, including New York, New Jersey, Colorado, and New Jersey.
It charges a 10-14% fee on deposits, plus a nominal $0.29 transaction fee. Jackpocket provides a scanned copy of your ticket, to your dashboard which ensures transparency, and automatically credits small winnings to your account. For larger wins, it arranges for you to receive the physical lottery ticket.
Jackpot.com is another major player in the industry as they’re available in 7 states, including Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio.
Instead of marking up ticket prices like some of the others, it charges a simple 15% fee on deposits. Similar to Jackpocket, it automatically credits small winnings to your account and ensures larger prizes are delivered securely.
This lottery courier service offers a different approach. While it has a more limited U.S. presence, currently available in Oregon, Minnesota, and Florida, it stands out by offering access to over 50 global lotteries which is unique to this platform.
TheLotter adds a 20-40% markup on ticket prices, rather than charging a deposit fee. So, if you want to buy more expensive tickets, you’ll have to pay more for those.
This lottery service is great for those looking to enter international drawings like EuroMillions or Italy’s SuperEnalotto in addition to the big US lotteries like Powerball and Mega Millions.
It’s important to note that each of these apps is licensed and regulated which ensures that your tickets are purchased securely. They also offer mobile notifications so you can track jackpot updates and check results in real time. Gone are the days when you had to check each number manually to see if you won.
There are a few other options to get in on the Mega Millions and Powerball lotteries if you don’t want to use any of those apps.
For those who prefer to play through official state-run platforms, several states have their own lottery apps. These apps offer a direct way to purchase Powerball and Mega Millions tickets while sometimes including promotional bonuses for new users.
In Michigan, for example, players can receive a 50% deposit match bonus, of up to $200. That means if you deposit $100 to your Michigan Lottery account they’ll give you $50 more to buy lottery tickets with.
Pennsylvania’s lottery app is even more generous. They’re currently offering a 100% deposit match bonus, up to $500 so for every dollar you deposit to your account, they’ll match with a dollar — essentially doubling your money.
Virginia’s lottery app takes the same approach as Michigan's as they provide a 50% deposit match, up to $100.
These bonuses let you get some extra value when funding your account which makes it easier to play more games without spending too much of your own money. The best part of these bonus offers is that they will let you keep 100% of anything you win.
While these state apps do not necessarily operate as courier services like Jackpocket or TheLotter, they still provide a secure and official way to enter the biggest lottery draws in the nation.
With the Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots totaling an eye-popping $400 million, the appeal of winning big has never been greater — well, maybe a handful of times. Nonetheless, playing online offers multiple benefits, making it a popular choice for lottery fans.
One of the biggest advantages is purely convenience. Instead of making a trip to a store, you can purchase a ticket with just a few taps on your phone. It’s quick and easy, both of which lottery fans love. Online lottery services also eliminate the risk of losing your ticket, since your digital copy is safely stored in your account.
Security is another key reason why players are moving online. Jackpocket, Jackpot.com, and TheLotter are licensed and regulated in their respective states. This means that tickets are purchased legally and that winnings are paid out correctly.
Of course, the best part is that these services do not take commissions on prizes, so winners keep 100% of their earnings.
Another benefit lottery fans love about these apps is instant notifications. If you win, there’s no need to manually check your numbers one by one to see if you won anything — your app will alert you right away.
Some services even offer lottery pools which allow groups of players to split tickets and increase their chances of winning.
You only have a few hours before the Mega Millions draw, so now is the time to act if you want to use any of these platforms to buy lottery tickets online.
The next Mega Millions drawing is set tonight at 11:12 PM EST and it’s loaded with a $165 million jackpot. If you don’t win the Mega Millions, you still have a chance on the $248 million Powerball jackpot which draws tomorrow at 10:59 PM EST. With the two jackpots totaling $400 million, now is the time to grab a ticket.
If you're looking to play and you’re in one of the states they operate in, try downloading Jackpocket, Jackpot.com, or TheLotter to enter the drawings securely. At the very least you can take advantage of promotional offers, including free tickets and deposit match bonuses.
A single ticket could change your life, but you can’t win if you don’t play.