TheLotter leaving New York two months after announcing NJ shutdown
Digital lottery courier service TheLotter is ending its operations in New York, just two months after it announced it would pull out of neighboring New Jersey.
The company, which purchases lottery tickets to order from retail partners on the players’ behalf and takes a commission on each transaction, issued a press release on Tuesday that it will suspend its business in the Empire State as of Jan. 29. TheLotter positioned the move as part of its ongoing efforts to streamline its activities and focus on long-term growth.
“As part of our national growth strategy, we periodically evaluate where our efforts can have the greatest impact,” TheLotter US Head of Marketing Jessica Griggs told SBC Americas via email. “Exiting New York allows us to accelerate expansion in new markets and further strengthen our presence in states where demand for our services continues to grow.
“This decision enables us to concentrate on delivering the best possible experience to more players across the country. By reallocating resources, we can enhance our platform, and continue improving services in our active states.”
Two quick East Coast exits
Launched in Europe in 2002, TheLotter is older than its major U.S. competitors, which include Lotto.com, Jackpot.com and DraftKings-owned Jackpocket. However, it will soon have a presence of just three states: Arizona, Minnesota and Oregon.
New York regulates lottery couriers and requires companies to be licensed. TheLotter entered the market as the state’s fourth approved lottery courier in June 2024 after receiving New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) approval.
TheLotter informed the NYSGC of its intent to cease business in the state. Griggs said the decision to withdraw will enable the company to better allocate resources and support its long-term nationwide expansion strategy. TheLotter informed the NYSGC of its intent to cease business in the state on Jan. 29. All existing orders or scheduled subscription draws after that date will be canceled and refunded, and New York users have been told they can withdraw remaining funds until April 29.
This week’s update comes two months after TheLotter confirmed in November that it would be similarly abandoning New Jersey, the home of its registered U.S. office, citing similar reasons about refocusing on other states.
‘Headwinds’ affecting TheLotter’s US business
TheLotter US General Manager Barry Golombek told SBC Americas at that time that “significant headwinds” for lottery couriers, such as Texas‘ decision to ban them outright in spring 2025, have intensified the challenges that his company faces in the U.S. market.
“Texas accounted for a substantial portion of our revenue, and that loss prompted us to reevaluate our approach to the U.S. market,” he said.
Griggs said in a public statement on Tuesday that the shift enables TheLotter to focus on markets where it can grow more efficiently and expand sustainably across the U.S.
New York and New Jersey are two of the only two states to regulate and license lottery couriers. Arizona’s lottery passed a motion last April to regulate them, but the vertical is a grey area in other jurisdictions and states like Connecticut have discussed whether they should be banned. The World Lottery Association (WLA) published a policy paper last July recommending that couriers be brought under regulatory oversight with certain restrictions, such as prohibiting bulk sales of lottery tickets.
TheLotter announced plans in July 2024 to launch in Florida but quickly pumped the brakes. In December of that year, the Florida Lottery shut down the service, labeling it an unauthorized platform.
https://sbcamericas.com/2026/01/20/thelotter-shutting-down-new-york/