For decades, Massachusetts residents have only been able to buy lottery tickets using cash. However, that changed in 2024.
Earlier this year, the Senate’s spending proposal called for allowing people to use their debit cards, instead of just cash, to purchase lottery tickets.
iLottery was officially legalized in Massachusetts in July after Gov. Maura Healey signed the state Legislature’s $58 million compromise budget bill. With the legalization, debit cards were also allowed to be used to purchase lottery tickets.
The state does not allow lottery players to use a credit card to purchase tickets.
Other New England states, such as Connecticut, still require players to use cash.
Prior to the launch of the online lottery, there is still another way to get tickets through an app.
Jackpocket is offering a lottery courier service to Bay Staters, similar to the likes of ordering food through “Uber Eats” or “DoorDash,” to order tickets for games like Mega Millions and Powerball, according to spokesperson Andrew Fries. The app has been available since July 2023.
