The California Lottery recently made an announcement that tickets bought through online lottery couriers will not be eligible for payouts. This means that even if you win big, you might not receive any money. The Lottery has sent letters to its 23,000 ticket retailers warning them that selling tickets to couriers could lead to contract termination.
Lottery couriers are third-party companies that sell tickets online using mobile apps. They buy tickets in bulk from licensed retailers and handle the process of distributing winnings to their customers. While couriers are legal and regulated in states like New York and New Jersey, they are considered illegal in California.
According to Carolyn Becker, a spokesperson for the California Lottery, the state does not support the use of online couriers for purchasing lottery tickets. She emphasized that any player who buys tickets through a courier is not eligible to win any prizes. The Lottery is prohibited by law from paying out prizes on tickets acquired online.
Couriers operating in California argue that they are simply buying tickets on behalf of others, similar to how a friend or family member might do. One courier, Mido Lotto, compared their service to DoorDash or UberEats, stating that they do not actually sell lottery tickets. While there is no specific law against their services, the California Lottery does not endorse or authorize them.
Although the Lottery has not yet had to invalidate a jackpot claim from a courier-purchased ticket, Becker mentioned that it could happen in the future. The lack of regulation and oversight for couriers raises concerns about the transparency and legality of their operations.
In light of this recent development, players in California are advised to purchase their lottery tickets directly from licensed retailers to ensure eligibility for any potential winnings. While the convenience of online couriers may be tempting, it is important to abide by the rules set forth by the California Lottery to avoid any issues with prize claims in the future.
