Online lottery is a form of gambling that lets you buy tickets for various national and international lotteries from the comfort of your home. They are popular in many countries, including the United States, where people can play for millions of dollars each year.
You can find online lottery sites in most states, and they are generally legal. They allow players to purchase tickets for their favorite games, and they also offer news about the latest draws. In addition, some online lottery agents will provide information about past lottery results and unclaimed prizes.
Most online lottery websites are not government-run, but private businesses operate them. This allows them to offer a wider range of games, including the MegaMillions and PowerBall games. They may also be able to provide more frequent draw dates than traditional lotteries.
Some online lottery websites are even linked to lottery ticket retailers, which can make them easier for you to buy and redeem your winnings. They can also store your payment details so you don’t have to keep re-entering them every time you want to buy a new ticket.
In addition to offering national and international lotteries, some online lottery sites also feature local games in your state. These are usually available for a small fee, and they can be a great way to win some cash.
You can also play a number of instant win games, or “e-Instants,” from any location in the US. These are similar to scratch-off lottery tickets and include top prizes that can vary from a few hundred thousand to millions of dollars.
The Pennsylvania Lottery launched its first batch of online games in May 2018. These include a wide variety of instant win and draw games, as well as keno and virtual sports.
These games are offered in conjunction with the state’s other lottery games. Some of the instant games are available on mobile phones, and other ones can be played in any web browser.
Some states also offer online lottery software and tools, which can help you pick numbers and win prizes. These can be very useful if you’re not an experienced player or aren’t tech-savvy. However, they aren’t a guarantee that you’ll win the jackpot.
Most of the top software programs have easy-to-use interfaces and intuitive layouts, so they shouldn’t take too long to learn. Some of them offer free trials, so you can try them out before you invest any money.
There are also a number of apps that you can download from the App Store or Google Play for your mobile phone. These will let you keep track of your current ticket balance, check for unclaimed prizes and view previous drawings.
Some online lottery sites allow you to pay using a credit card. Others accept PayPal or a prepaid debit card. Some of them even accept e-wallets, such as Apple Pay and Android Pay.
The Wire Act was originally interpreted to prohibit online lotteries, but in 2011 the US Department of Justice issued an opinion that changed the law. It ruled that online lottery sales could be made in each state, so long as they were regulated by the state.