Online lottery is a convenient way to purchase lottery tickets. You can use a website that offers a wide range of state-approved games, or you can visit a lottery office directly to buy your tickets. Some websites will even send someone out to the store for you and buy your ticket for you, saving you time and effort. However, make sure you only purchase lottery tickets through official sites and retailers to avoid scams.

US online lotteries can be played on desktop computers, laptops, or mobile devices. They offer a variety of games and jackpots, including the Mega Millions and Powerball. You can also find instant games, keno, fast cash games, and raffles. These games have unique features and gameplay, making them a fun addition to your regular lottery play.

To start playing online lottery, you must first create an account on a reputable site. You can do this by visiting the homepage of your chosen site and clicking on “Sign Up” or “Register.” You will then be asked to provide personal information, such as your name, address, and age. This information is used to verify your identity and prevent underage gambling. Most reputable sites also provide self-assessment tools and resources to help players identify problem gambling behaviors. They also help players set daily, weekly, or monthly deposit limits to ensure they don’t spend more money than they intended. In addition, they recommend balancing gaming with other activities to avoid spending too much time playing.

Once you have created an account, you can then begin purchasing lottery tickets and playing online. You can choose to play a specific game or the entire lotto, and you can choose whether to use a quick pick option for a random selection or buy a ticket with a specified set of numbers. After selecting your numbers, you can review the odds of winning and decide whether to play the minimum amount required to win a prize or maximize your chances by investing more money.

Most states have legalized online lottery, and most offer state-regulated websites and apps. Some states also allow third-party providers to sell tickets. The laws and regulations vary by state, and they can change over time. Check out our interactive map to see if lotto sites are legal or not in your state.

While opponents of online lottery argue that it cannibalizes traditional game sales, there is no evidence that this is the case. Pennsylvania, for instance, saw a growth in retail lottery game sales in the year following the launch of its iLottery platform. In fact, iLottery has generated over $4 billion in lottery ticket sales so far. Moreover, many states are looking to expand their offerings in the future, which could result in an increase in overall lottery revenue.