The Texas Lottery Commission has voted to ban third-party couriers’ online sale of lottery tickets, reversing its long-standing position on the issue.
The ban, passed unanimously on Tuesday, means that the Texas Lottery Commission has the power to remove the lottery license of any business that works with couriers.
Couriers have operated in Texas for around a decade. These are third-party services that sell lottery tickets online and print and scan them at official lottery retailers, which they often own. The practice has recently been the focus of Texas lawmakers’ criticism due to fears about illegal purchases by players who are underage or based outside the state.
While ticket sales through couriers make up around 10% of overall lottery revenue, some companies have been able to outsell local official retailers. Stores run by the two biggest couriers, Jackpocket and Lotto.com, sold more than $226 million worth of tickets in 2024, compared to a combined total of $34 million for the top five licensed lottery retailers.
The acting Deputy Executive Director at the Texas Lottery Commission, Sergio Rey, said the commission would begin enforcing the rules immediately. The Attorney General’s office and a division of the Department of Public Safety are also conducting investigations into courier services.