Still need a Mega Millions ticket? You might be able to skip the gas-station line and buy one with your phone

By Charles Passy A total of 27 states now allow for some form of online lottery purchases Many Americans will be rushing today to grocery stores and gas stations to buy tickets for

tonight's big Mega Millions drawing with a $1.35 billion jackpot. But for Brandon Sansone, there's no reason to head out in a last-minute panic: 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 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-delivery apps have come to define restaurant takeout orders. "People are more comfortable with being able to do everything on their phone," said Bill Speros, a senior betting

analyst with Bookies.com, a gambling site. Certainly, the growth of Jackpocket, the major company in the app/online lottery world, speaks to this change. The private company

launched in 2013 and is now live in 15 states, with more slated to come aboard in 2023, according to officials. The company, which recently raised $120 million from investors, says

users of its platform have accounted for as much as 15% of Powerball sales in the states where it operates. But Jackpocket isn't alone in the field. Some states have their own

online platforms. Other private companies are in the business as well. One new entrant, Jackpot.com, launched this week -- it's operating just in Texas at this point -- and

recently completed a $42 million round of funding. Add it up and 27 states allow for some form of online lottery purchases, according to the Bonus.com site The private companies

follow similar models. They make their money by charging users service fees when they fund their accounts. For example, Jackpocket levies a 9% fee on any deposit plus a $.29

transaction fee -- so if you want to order $100 worth of lottery tickets, you'll actually have to deposit $109.29 into your account. And about those tickets: Both Jackpocket and

Jackpot.com say they purchase physical tickets on behalf of users and then safely hold on to them. A Jackpocket spokesperson explained that the buying is done with a courier-style