- Third party lottery app Jackpocket has announced that they’ve launched in New Mexico.
- The launch is part of the company’s partnership with the Circle K convenience store chain.
- Jackpocket is available in Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, and Washington, D.C.
We talked about third party lottery app Jackpocket last week when they announced a promotional partnership with the Minnesota Twins. Although I’m not personally interested in the lottery nor do we cover the lottery at this site (other than to remind you of the astronomical odds against winning the Powerball jackpot) I’ve become very interested in Jackpocket. In many ways, they’re fighting a similar fight to the innovators in the sports betting industry. There’s clearly demand for their product, but they’re forced to fight a never ending battle against state politicians and regulators. These ‘gatekeepers’ have little interest in innovation, nor in rolling out the red carpet for an up and coming company that to at least some extent ‘changes the game’. Instead, their primary interests are diametrically opposed to those of the consumers in their state. More often than not, they shape gaming policy in such a way as to serve the interests of financial benefactors and legacy corporate (and in some cases tribal) gaming providers.
At the time of our previous article, Jackpocket’s app was available in ten US states (or 9 US states and the District of Columbia if you’re a stickler for precision). They’ve now added another jurisdiction to their roster by beginning service in New Mexico in partnership with the Circle K convenience store brand. You’re no doubt aware that Circle K is one of the largest convenience store chains in the US and they’re also one of the largest lottery retailers in New Mexico. Although I’m still not clear on how Jackpocket makes money in the process (with the exception of a service fee for customer deposits) here’s how their service works:
The Jackpocket app provides users with a secure platform to order official state lottery tickets that are then fulfilled on their behalf at a licensed lottery retailer we partner with. When you place an order, we send you an email confirmation that includes all the details of your order. Then you receive another email once we’ve secured the ticket for you that includes the ticket serial number. We also send a high resolution scan of your paper ticket — front and back — for you to view in the app. The email receipt and ticket image are assurance that your ticket was purchased. Your paper ticket is securely stored in a locked, fireproof vault. If your ticket wins a small prize, we’ll credit your Jackpocket account and you can send the winnings to your bank account. If your ticket wins a large prize, we’ll arrange to have the winning ticket delivered to you in secure fashion so you can claim your prize directly from the state lottery.
In other words, Jackpocket could eventually put an end to those hard luck stories about a guy who buys a winning lottery ticket only to accidentally throw it away. To keep things legal, you can only buy lottery tickets that are offered in the state where you’re located. If they were trying to do something seriously revolutionary like open up games available in other states for purchase they’d meet with a ton of opposition since state government types get mad if they think you’re messing with their lottery revenues.
Here’s the New Mexico blurb from the press release announcing the Jackpocket entry into the ‘Land of Enchantment’:
For the first time ever, New Mexicans can order lottery tickets from the comfort of their phone. Jackpocket, the leading third-party app in the U.S. to provide a secure way to order official state lottery tickets, today announced its launch in New Mexico in partnership with Circle K, one of the largest convenience store brands in the U.S. and among New Mexico’s biggest lottery retailers.
Lottery players in New Mexico can now use Jackpocket’s mobile app to place ticket orders for well-known lottery game favorites, including Mega Millions, Powerball, Lotto America, Pick 3, Pick 4, and Roadrunner Cash. The mobile experience allows players to conveniently view an image of their ticket, check lottery results, join lottery pools with friends and families, receive prizes up to $600 and make payouts directly through the app.
Jackpocket CEO and Founder Peter Sullivan talks up his brand and looks forward to entering New Mexico:
“Circle K has a long-standing history as one of the top lottery retailers in New Mexico. Together, we are excited to bring Jackpocket’s accessibility and convenience to long-time lottery fans and brand new players alike. Lottery players have won over $130 million in prizes so far on Jackpocket, and we can’t wait to meet our first big winner in the Land of Enchantment. Jackpocket is committed to continuously innovating the digital gaming space in a safe and meaningful way.”
Melissa Lessard, the head of North American marketing at Circle K, also gets a quote about Jackpocket’s entry into New Mexico:
“We’re proud to partner with Jackpocket in New Mexico and make this fun, exclusive and convenient experience available to lottery players across the state. Providing the opportunity for customers to order official state lottery tickets with just the tap of a button through the Jackpocket app is yet another example of our commitment to making their lives a little easier every day.”
The press release notes that over 60% of Jackpocket’s users are between 18 and 45 years old which I would imagine is younger than the overall lottery demographic. With so many states well ‘behind the curve’ when it comes to mobile access to lottery games there’s definitely a market opportunity for Jackpocket to fill the void.
