For lottery enthusiasts around the world, the answer is straightforward: non-residents can legally buy Powerball and Mega Millions tickets. There is no requirement to be American, no need for a green card, and no residency threshold to clear.

What has changed in recent years is not the law, but access. And that shift has been driven largely by the rise of international lottery courier services - quietly transforming how “lotto nuts” outside the United States take part in the world’s biggest jackpots.

The Rule That Actually Matters

U.S. lotteries are governed by state law, and those laws regulate where tickets are sold, not who may own them. As long as a ticket is purchased legally inside a participating U.S. jurisdiction, it is valid - regardless of the buyer’s nationality or country of residence.

That principle has always been true. What couriers have done is operationalize it.

What Lottery Couriers Really Do

International lottery couriers exist to solve a logistical problem, not a legal one. They arrange for tickets to be purchased in person, at licensed U.S. retailers, by individuals physically present in the relevant state. The ticket is then securely stored, scanned, and made available to the customer.

For lottery fans abroad, this eliminates the need for impractical workarounds - such as flying thousands of miles for a $2 ticket or relying on informal favors from friends.

Reputable couriers emphasize traceability and transparency: timestamped ticket scans, clear ownership records, and auditable purchase processes. In that sense, they resemble payment or logistics companies more than gambling operators.

Why Couriers Matter

For casual players, access is a convenience. International couriers allow players to:

Participate consistently across multiple draws
Join group pools
Avoid missing jackpot peaks due to travel constraints
Keep their tickets safe

In short, couriers enable regular participation, not one-off novelty plays.

Addressing the Regulatory Noise

Occasionally, individual U.S. states scrutinize or restrict courier activity. These debates often generate alarming headlines, but they are frequently misunderstood.

Such actions concern retail and distribution rules at the state level, not the legality of non-resident ownership of tickets. The right of a foreign player to buy, hold, and win on a valid ticket is not in dispute.

For players, the practical lesson is simple: choose courier services like Lotto Nuts that operate transparently and in compliance with the states where tickets are purchased.

Winning as a Non-Resident

Non-U.S. winners can and do claim prizes. Tax withholding is common, particularly at the federal level, but that is a financial consideration - not a legal barrier. The ticket remains valid, and the prize payable.

Many international winners have successfully navigated the process with professional support.

The Bottom Line

Yes, non-residents can buy Powerball and Mega Millions tickets.

International lottery couriers have turned a theoretical right into a workable reality - connecting global lottery fans with legally purchased U.S. tickets in a secure, structured way.

For Lotto Nuts, couriers aren’t a shortcut or a loophole. They’re infrastructure. And in the modern lottery world, access is everything.

Can Non-Residents Buy U.S. Powerball and Mega Millions Tickets?