Lottery Jackpot Sparks Courier Services Debate in Texas

Shortly after a lucky player in Texas won a life-changing $83.5 million jackpot from the Texas Lottery with a ticket purchased through a courier app, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick expressed his dissatisfaction with these services. Patrick critiqued apps and insisted that they “violate the spirit of the law.”

Courier Apps Have Been Skyrocketing in Popularity

The $83.5 million Texas Lottery ticket was purchased by the fan-favorite Jackpocket app, which has been steadily gaining traction in America. Jackpocket and other courier services purchase lottery tickets on players’ behalf, saving them the need to go and buy a ticket.

Courier service officials would then scan the tickets, making them available to players. In case a player wins, smaller winnings would be directly deposited in their accounts. For winnings over a certain sum, however, additional steps are required.

This appealing convenience has attracted millions of players to courier apps.

Such apps are funded by a variety of fees and taxes they impose on players. Jackpocket in particular, earns money by charging a 14% fee on deposits.

Jackpocket Might Violate the Law

Lt. Governor Patrick questioned the legality of lottery couriers because of transparency and youth gambling concerns. According to him, it also risks exposing children to gambling since it is harder to verify the identity of a customer online.

Patrick said that even if courier services make changes, this wouldn’t solve the core issue, which is that cash tickets exist for a reason.

In addition to that, Texas laws state that lottery retailers must not have that as their primary business. Additionally, the Lone Star State prohibits online gambling and, according to Patrick, some might argue that courier services constitute online gambling since they allow players to participate in games of chance from a distance.

Patrick said that, at best, courier services operate in a legal gray area.

Patrick’s Concerns Are Not Unique

This isn’t the first time the Lt. Governor has critiqued lottery couriers. He has previously championed measures for the ban of such services, although his measures have failed to pass.

Patrick’s opposition to apps, such as Jackpocket, has been echoed by the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, which has likewise argued that these services constitute illegal gambling.

This discussion is not unique to Texas either, as lawmakers in other states have expressed a variety of concerns. While some have echoed the transparency, illegal gambling and youth gambling concerns, others have pointed out that such services could allow people to exploit lotteries by purchasing huge volumes of tickets.

DraftKings, which purchased Jackpocket last year, has remained a staunch supporter of courier services, arguing that they are compliant with state laws. The operator has warned that banning lottery couriers might lead players to the unregulated and more dangerous online casino market instead.