Several US states have begun offering online lottery tickets, but the process is still fairly new. In fact, the first state to offer online lottery sales was Illinois, which began doing so in March 2012. While other states have been testing the water with online lottery ticket sales, the United States has yet to fully legalize this form of gambling. The Wire Act, which prohibits gambling on sporting events, is considered to be an obstacle to the development of online lottery.
However, in recent years, the Department of Justice has clarified the laws regarding lottery gaming. It has issued legal opinions on the Wire Act and has suggested that it does not apply to online lotteries. Since then, several states have begun considering the possibility of expanding their online gambling options. A few of these states include Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Jersey.
While online lottery sales are currently only available to residents of the seven states that currently have them, the number is expected to grow. The biggest national lottery in the US, Powerball, is already available in an online format. The game is drawn twice weekly and offers jackpots of up to $1 billion. There are also a number of multi-state lottery games, such as the MegaMillions. These lottery games allow players to purchase tickets in their own states as well as in Washington DC and the US Virgin Islands.
There are also a number of Instant Games that are available on the internet. These are casino-like games that can be played from a computer or a smartphone. They are based on the same basic premise as traditional lottery games. These games typically require players to select their own numbers. The prize rewards vary by game, but they typically cap out at less than $20. Most of these games require players to select 7 “magic” numbers.
The process of buying tickets online is simple. Just enter your zip code and the site will show the closest retailers. Once you have purchased your tickets, you will be able to check for winning numbers and see the total cost. Depending on the game, you may also have the option of receiving a cash prize.
Some states that have launched online lotteries also have official lottery courier services. These companies can be used to send you official lottery tickets. These couriers are authorized by a growing number of states. The company that is most popular is Jackpocket, which only works with legal online lotteries.
While the state of Nevada has not approved an online lottery, many residents of the state have turned to the multi-state lottery. These games are also popular with residents of other states bordering Nevada. Most of these state-sponsored websites charge the same price for online lottery tickets as they do for traditional lottery tickets.
In order to play online, players must register and become a member of the site. This allows them to view their winning numbers and contact information. They can also select the number of tickets they want to buy. The easiest way to choose your lottery numbers is to use the quick pick feature. You can then choose to buy one, two, or three tickets for each drawing.