As of this writing, seven jurisdictions offer lotteries online. Before this, eight jurisdictions offered online lotteries, but one, Minnesota, recently canceled its online lottery program. Fortunately, the Department of Justice clarified its position regarding the Wire Act in 2011, opening the door to states who want to sell lottery tickets online. While many states have created their own lotto online apps, others rely on third-party applications for the same functionality. Other jurisdictions are not offering online lotteries yet, citing verification challenges.
Before you begin playing, be sure to read the rules of the online lottery game you’re interested in. While most games follow similar rules, there may be some minor differences among games. One game might require you to choose five numbers from 1-50, plus two from 1-10. Another lottery game may require that you select five numbers from 1-69, plus one from 1 to 26. If you’re unfamiliar with the rules, don’t worry, most sites have tutorials available for their games, and you can always check out the rules and regulations before playing.
There are also legal and regulatory issues to consider when choosing an online lottery site. While playing online, be sure to choose a site that is licensed by your state lottery commission. Some unlicensed sites may charge extra fees and may not pay winners. You can also expect to pay a processing fee when withdrawing your winnings, which can be costly. But, if you play the lottery online, you’ll have an easier time winning a lot of money and not have to leave your home!