Many Americans rushed at the 11th hour to grocery stores and gas stations in advance of Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing, all to get their chance at claiming a $1.35 billion jackpot. While the top prize was won by a single ticket-holder in Maine, it seems likely the process will repeat itself eventually again — with future big drawings and future last-minute panics. But for Brandon Sansone, there’s no reason to head out in such a rush: He can make all his lottery purchases without even looking up from his phone.
Sansone is a regular user of Jackpocket, an app that allows him to order tickets for games like Mega Millions and Powerball. The New York City resident says the convenience factor can’t be beat, especially when there’s a big jackpot at stake and he’s eager to play. “It’s become my new best friend,” he said of the app. Sansone is hardly alone. While lottery apps and online platforms are still relatively new and account for only a fraction of the $105.26 billion that Americans spend annually on lottery tickets, they are nevertheless becoming more popular. And some lottery-industry watchers say they are poised to become a dominant force in much the same way that food-deliver …