Does Dollar General Sell Lottery Tickets in 2024? The Complete Guide
Playing the lottery offers a chance to win big and change your life in an instant. With jackpots that can swell to hundreds of millions of dollars, it‘s no wonder that over half of Americans played the lottery in the past year. But does the popular dollar store chain Dollar General sell lottery tickets to capture this huge market?
In most states, the answer is no. However, Dollar General has offered lottery ticket sales in Texas since 2020, making the lottery more convenient for its shoppers.
The Widespread Appeal of Lottery Games
Lotteries in the U.S. generated over $92 billion in revenue in 2021. With so many people playing lottery games like Powerball and Mega Millions, stores want to tap into this demand.
Low-income individuals tend to play the lottery more frequently. Those with incomes under $25,000 spent $400 per year on average on lottery tickets. Given that Dollar General caters to lower-income shoppers, selling lottery tickets aligns with its customer base.
However, some view lotteries as an unfair tax on the poor. I believe lottery games should be played responsibly as entertainment, not as a financial strategy. Too often, people spend money on lottery tickets when that cash could be better spent elsewhere.
Dollar General‘s Lottery Experiment in Texas
While most Dollar General locations do not offer lottery tickets, the chain rolled out lottery sales in its Texas stores in 2020.
Rather than keeping tickets behind the counter, Dollar General puts them right at checkout, like impulse buy items. This makes purchasing lottery tickets fast and convenient.
However, shoppers cannot cash winning tickets at Dollar General. Instead, they have to go to official Texas Lottery claim centers. This likely reduces costs and administrative hassles for Dollar General.
Why Lottery Tickets Are Limited to Texas Stores
Dollar General has over 18,000 stores across 46 states. Yet so far, lottery ticket sales are limited to just Texas. There are a few potential reasons why:
State lottery regulations. Each state has its own rules and licensing procedures for approving lottery retailers. Going through this process in multiple states adds costs and paperwork.
Logistical challenges. Handling lottery sales requires extra staff training, security procedures, and reporting. Rolling out lottery in Texas first allows Dollar General to work out any kinks before expanding to more states.
Uncertain payoff. Dollar General may be testing customer response before deciding if lottery ticket sales are profitable enough to warrant offering them nationwide.
Buying Lottery Tickets at Dollar General in Texas
Purchasing a lottery ticket at Dollar General in Texas is quick and convenient. Here are the steps:
Browse ticket options – Scan the selections in the checkout lanes. $4 and $10 single-draw QuickTickets are available for top games.
Grab your ticket – Pick up the ticket for the game and price point you want. Tickets are alongside candy bars and packs of gum near the register.
Pay at checkout – Hand your lottery ticket to the cashier. They‘ll scan it along with the rest of your purchases.
Keep your receipt – Make sure to take your ticket and receipt to check numbers and redeem prizes later.
Dollar General also offers tickets for the Texas Two Step game. Over 300 million lottery tickets have been sold at Dollar General to date.
Lottery Ticket Sales at Other Popular Retailers
Even if your local Dollar General doesn‘t offer lottery tickets, they are still readily available at convenience stores, gas stations, pharmacies and big box retailers.
Here are some top national chains that sell lottery tickets by state:
| Retailer | States with Lottery Tickets |
|---|---|
| 7-Eleven | AZ, CA, CO, FL, NJ, NY, TX, VA, etc. |
| Circle K | AZ, CA, CO, FL, NM, NV, TX, UT, etc. |
| Safeway | AZ, CA, CO, DC, HI, MD, OR, VA, etc. |
| Kroger | AZ, CA, CO, GA, IN, KY, OH, TN, etc. |
| Walmart | AR, CO, FL, MA, MO, OH, SC, TX, etc. |
Check your state lottery‘s store locator to find authorized retailers near you. Or just stop by gas stations, drug stores and convenience stores, where cashiers can sell you lottery tickets directly.
The Easiest Ways to Buy Lottery Tickets
Buying a lottery ticket only takes a few minutes. Here are some of the fastest ways to get your hands on lottery tickets:
Gas stations – Pay at the counter. Tickets are almost always available.
Convenience stores – Grab tickets while paying for snacks and drinks. No waiting in line.
Dollar General (in TX) – Pick up tickets with other small purchases at checkout.
Self-service kiosks (in some states) – Insert cash and print tickets in seconds.
Online/mobile apps (where available) – Buy and store tickets digitally in just a few taps.
As long as you set a budget and play for fun, buying lottery tickets can add some extra anticipation to your day. Just don‘t go overboard chasing the jackpot dream.
The Bottom Line
Playing the lottery every now and then is a relatively harmless form of entertainment for most people. While Dollar General does not sell lottery tickets nationwide, you can find them at various convenience stores, gas stations, supermarkets, and pharmacies.
In Texas specifically, Dollar General now stocks lottery tickets right at the checkout counter to add impulse purchase appeal. But unless you‘re shopping in Texas, you‘ll need to look elsewhere if you hope to score a Powerball QuickPick on your Dollar General run.
