Lottery players in Massachusetts won’t have to go to the store to buy tickets anymore. On Jan. 10, 2024, Jackpot.com announced its entrance into The Bay Commonwealth market. Jackpot.com’s big move will mark the fourth state the company has expanded to since its creation. The service is already available in Texas, Ohio, and New York.
Lottery Geeks’ readers may be wondering: What exactly is Jackpot.com? How does it work?
The easiest way to explain this would be through Jackpot.com’s website or app; customers within the states where the company legally operates can buy digital lottery tickets. Those purchased lottery tickets get stored on the website or app. If the customer happens to win a prize, they can collect money directly through the service. Customers no longer need to worry about keeping track of their lottery tickets and becoming a part of the dreaded unclaimed prize winner Hall of Fame.
Another thing services like Jackpot.com allow is for its users to know the results of a draw once it happened instantly. Customers no longer have to scan their tickets at the grocery store or gas station. If their ticket wins a prize, they will know instantly. The ability to have such features has been met with much fanfare on social media by lottery players. And there’s a growing desire for more lottery companies to cash in on the trend.
There are some drawbacks to the service, according to Nicholas Christensen’s 2021 Lottery Critic article.
“Some game types are lacking; bank payment is limited to only one bank; and despite the ‘no commissions’ claims, they withhold a sizable percentage from the two highest prize categories of Powerball and Mega Millions,” the article says.
However, he did mention that the service is constantly improving. Christensen believes, “If you are looking for a simple lottery site, Jackpot.com is well worth a look.”
Potential customers should also be made aware of Jackpot.com’s strict verification process. It will involve showing ID and confirming home addresses and banking details. Although this process is safe, some may feel uncomfortable sharing those details online.
Once the verification process is over, what tickets can the Massachusetts customer expect to be able to purchase?
As of now, Jackpot.com will offer customers the ability to buy Powerball, Mega Millions, Mass Cash, and Lucky for Life tickets, with more games to be included soon. The finer details for a variety of games are still being worked out.
Akshay Khanna, Jackpot.com CEO and co-founder, said in a press release, “We’re excited to bring Jackpot.com to Massachusetts and offer customers a better experience to get in on the fun and try their luck on a winning ticket.
“Every year, billions of dollars from the lottery go unclaimed due to lost tickets or otherwise. When you play the lottery with Jackpot.com on your phone, tablet, or computer, there’s no missing out on jackpots and your winnings are instantly transferred to you.”
What amazes some is how many investors are buying into the concept of Jackpot.com. The company has financial backing from some of the most well-known names in the Massachusetts sports world, including the Kraft Group, Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon, Former Red Sox GM Theo Epstein, and Boston Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy.
A concern many within the industry and the general public have with services like Jackpot.com is its ability to allow problem gamblers to fuel their addictions with a click of a button.
Jackpot.com’s press release stressed the importance of having safeguards in its product to prevent such things:
“Its progressive platform not only modernizes how to play, but also empowers customers to play responsibly, with industry-leading safeguards and technology to identify problematic gaming.
“Jackpot.com has invested significantly in responsible gaming protections by setting default limits on daily deposits, providing access to local and national responsible gambling resources, self-exclusion, self-suspension and automated notifications that offer help if problematic behavior is detected. These investments helped Jackpot.com become the only lottery courier service to launch with iCap certification from the National Council on Problem Gambling.”
If Lottery Geeks’ readers in Massachusetts want to give Jackpot.com a try, they can receive a free ticket by entering promo code “MASS” on their first play.
