Does Costco Sell Lottery Tickets in 2024? Here‘s What to Know

Every year, Americans spend a whopping $73 billion on lottery tickets, with the average adult pitching in over $1000 annually. With such huge demand, it‘s natural to wonder if major retailers like Costco participate in these lucrative lottery sales.

So if you‘re planning a shopping trip and hope to grab a Powerball or Mega Millions ticket, does Costco sell lottery tickets either in-store or online? Let‘s take a detailed look.

Inside Costco‘s Lottery Ticket Policy

Costco does not sell lottery tickets in any of its 800+ warehouse club stores across the United States. And there‘s no way to purchase them through the Costco website or app either. This blanket policy has been in place for years.

According to retail analysts, Costco likely avoids lottery ticket sales for a few key reasons:

• No profit margins – Lottery tickets are sold at fixed prices, so Costco cannot adjust them and take a cut like other products.

• Checkout delays – Lottery ticket purchases bog down lines and frustrate customers waiting to check out.

• Operational challenges – Managing lottery inventory and payouts adds complexity that Costco wants to avoid.

So for a business focused heavily on membership fees and turning high volumes of select merchandise quickly, lottery tickets don‘t align with Costco‘s overall strategy.

However, while Costco avoids lottery sales nationally, it‘s possible some individual stores in certain states may offer lottery tickets based on specific state/local retail regulations. But coverage appears very limited.

Lottery Ticket Sales at Other Major Retailers

While Costco sits lottery sales out, most other major chains like Walmart, Target, and 7-Eleven have embraced offering lottery tickets across the country both for big multi-state games and smaller regional lotteries.

Convenience stores and gas stations also frequently sell lottery tickets, making them widely available to consumers across nearly every state.

Can You Buy Lottery Tickets Online?

In some states that allow online lottery sales, you can purchase Powerball, Mega Millions, and state lottery tickets online through approved courier services and mobile apps. However, you must be physically located in that state at the time of purchase.

For example, these states currently permit certain forms of online ticket sales:

• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• Georgia
• Illinois

But many states still prohibit all online sales, limiting lottery purchases to in-person only. Check with your state lottery commission to see if any digital ordering options are available where you live.

There are also some unauthorized websites that illegally claim to sell tickets online across state lines. Avoid these sites as they violate lottery regulations.

Age and Identification Requirements

Given that playing the lottery essentially equates to gambling on games of chance, you must meet a minimum age to purchase tickets either online or in-store:

• 18 years – Most states
• 19 years – Specific states like Alabama and Nebraska

When buying in person, retailers will ask for valid government-issued photo ID like a driver‘s license to verify your age. Some online ticket courier services also require uploading your ID for age verification.

My Take: Why Costco Says No to Lottery Tickets

In my opinion, Costco‘s decision not to sell lottery tickets despite their popularity comes down to a combination of limited potential for profit and the desire to avoid disrupting their streamlined shopping experience.

While the lottery ticket market is huge, actual retailer commissions are fairly small at just around 6-7% of sales. With no ability to adjust margins, it ends up being more trouble than it‘s worth for Costco‘s operations.

And the last thing Costco wants is long customer lines at checkout over lottery transactions. Their business model depends on keeping stores neatly organized and customers moving efficiently through checkout. Lottery ticket sales would undermine that.

So in summary, while lottery tickets remain readily available nearly everywhere else, don‘t expect to ever see them come to Costco warehouses. The retailer has strategically opted to sit out this particular offering.

The Bottom Line

Costco does not sell lottery tickets in its stores or online in order to maintain focus on more profitable merchandise that aligns with their operational strategy. But you‘ll have plenty of other options for conveniently purchasing Powerball, Mega Millions, and other state lottery tickets at chains like Walmart, Target, CVS, and 7-Eleven.

Some states also allow online orders through approved lottery courier apps and sites. Just remember you‘ll need to show ID proving you‘re over 18 or 19 before you can buy!