While the estimated Powerball jackpot is setting records, Ohio Jackpocket users are unable to use the popular lottery app to buy their tickets for the drawings.
Jackpocket, which was bought by DraftKings in May 2024, was the first licensed, third-party lottery courier app in the United States, allowing users to order official state lottery tickets from their phones, according to the app’s website.
But Jackpocket’s ability to fulfill orders was recently suspended in the Buckeye State because it wasn’t in compliance with the Ohio Lottery Commission’s retailer terms and conditions, according to an email from the commission’s spokesperson.
“Jackpocket will remain inactive in Ohio until their internal controls are addressed,” Danielle Frizzi-Babb, the Ohio Lottery Commission’s deputy director of communications, said in an email to The Dispatch.
Why is Jackpocket suspended in Ohio, and can I still access my funds?
Several self-identified Ohio Jackpocket users took to Reddit’s Lottery subreddit to express confusion after they opened the app to an alert that orders weren’t currently available in their state.
The Dispatch reached out to Jackpocket, asking why orders were paused for Ohioans.
“We have paused the ordering of draw games and scratch-off tickets in Ohio while an internal review is being conducted,” according to an email statement from a Jackpocket spokesperson.
When asked about the Ohio Lottery Commission’s notice that the app had been suspended for not complying with the state agency’s retailer terms and conditions, DraftKings’ senior director of communications, Stephen Miraglia, declined to comment.
Miraglia said that though Ohioans cannot place orders via Jackpocket, they are still able to access and withdraw their money if desired.
Frizzi-Babb said the Jackpocket app operates legally in Ohio, but it is not affiliated with the official Ohio Lottery. The app fulfills users’ orders from the licensed lottery shop Winners Corner, she said.
Frizzi-Babb did not respond to The Dispatch’s follow-up question about how Jackpocket violated the commission’s retailer terms and conditions.
In February, the Texas Lottery Commission announced a ban prohibiting the purchase of lottery tickets through courier services like Jackpocket, attributing the move to a lack of regulatory oversight over such apps.
How do you play the Powerball?
The Powerball jackpot is now $1.7 billion, with a cash value payout of $770.3 million for the Sept. 6, 2025, drawing. The odds of winning are 1 in 292.2 million.
If you’re going to take your chances anyway, you should know that in order to win the Powerball jackpot, you must match all five white balls in any order, plus the red Powerball.
After purchasing your ticket, you’ll pick six numbers: five of which must be between 1 and 69 for the white balls and the other between 1 and 26 for the Powerball. Players are able to choose their own numbers on a play slip or let the lottery terminal randomly pick them.
Players can also add a “Power Play” for $1, which increases the winning amount for all non-jackpot prizes. The jackpot will continue to grow until it’s won.
Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET. Drawings are broadcast live at those times and live-streamed on the Powerball website, per prior Dispatch reporting.
Jackpocket versus Jackpot: Are they the same?
While both are third-party lottery apps, Jackpocket and Jackpot — formally referred to as Jackpot.com — are two different services.
Jackpot.com remains available in Ohio.
Reporter Emma Wozniak can be reached at ewozniak@dispatch.com or @emma_wozniak_ on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: As Powerball jackpot soars, Ohioans can’t use Jackpocket app for tickets
Reporting by Emma Wozniak, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
