Lottery courier theLotter will soon begin service in Florida. It will be the sixth state the online lottery ticket seller operates in.
Lottery players in the Sunshine State will be able to buy tickets via an app, with theLotter purchasing the tickets and housing them in an online account.
Yael Hertz, theLotter CEO, said the company is excited to operate in Florida.
“We’re thrilled to bring our services to Florida. Our launch in the Sunshine State marks a significant milestone for theLotter, and we are extremely proud to offer an accessible platform for ordering lottery tickets online. This brings a renewed level of convenience to customers in the area.”
theLottery began operating in Texas in 2020
The company will be the first to offer lottery tickets online in the state. The Florida Lottery does not sell tickets online.
Some customers appreciate the convenience of purchasing lottery tickets from a mobile app or website, where they can schedule the transaction, see the tickets scanned by the courier, and then receive any winnings. With theLotter, customers can receive their winnings (up to a certain amount) directly in their online accounts.
The courier company is based in Malta. It has operated in Europe for many years. In 2020, theLotter entered the US market, beginning in Texas. It launched in New York and New Jersey in June. It also operates in Minnesota and Oregon. The company said it plans to add other states later this year.
It competes against a handful of other online lottery courier companies, including Jackpot.com, Lotto.com, and Jackpocket. In May, DraftKings purchased Jackpocket for a reported $750 million.
Florida Lottery has generated nearly $50B in tax revenue since 1988
The Lottery is popular in Florida. It ranked fifth nationally in per capita lottery sales in Fiscal Year 2022-23 and first in overall ticket sales at $9.8 billion.
Tax revenue from the Florida State Lottery goes toward educational programs and general funding in the state budget. The Educational Enhancement Trust Fund receives 25 cents of every dollar spent on lottery tickets in Florida, with that money going to the K-12 public education system, as well as to colleges and universities.
Around 27% of tax revenue from lottery sales funds the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
Since it was launched in 1988, the Lottery has generated $46 billion in tax revenue.