How to Play the Lottery Online

Lotteries have a long history in the US. Some newspapers from the colonial era show hundreds of lotteries existing as early as the 18th century. In 1934, Puerto Rico began operating lottery games, and New Hampshire became the first state to offer them. Today, 45 US states and Washington DC operate lotteries. In 2021, the Virgin Islands will start operating their own lottery. Besides drawing games, Puerto Rico also offers instant win games.

Online lotteries have become popular in the United States. Several jurisdictions offer lottery games online, including Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Oregon. As of 2015, eight jurisdictions operated online lotteries, although one, Minnesota, discontinued its online program. Online lotteries began to emerge after the Department of Justice clarified its position on the Wire Act in 2011, allowing states to offer lottery tickets online. Some states have developed lottery online applications, while others defer to third-party applications. Those without lottery online sites have cited verification challenges as the reason.

Legitimate online lottery sites offer a variety of games, promotions, and rewards. They offer online lottery games from your state to nationwide. A legit lottery website will offer scratchcards, keno, raffles, discount tickets, and lottery syndicates. You can find the results of your lottery draws on their official website. And don’t forget to check out the safety of the site! Some lottery sites offer secure payment options. They are also regulated by their state gaming authorities.