Buying lottery tickets online is relatively new in the United States. While most jurisdictions have sold tickets online, only a handful of them have taken the leap to legality. While there is no federal law governing the practice, many states are considering expanding their online reach.
Online lotteries are a growing trend and will likely expand in the future. However, you need to be aware of legal restrictions before you decide whether to play online. Some jurisdictions require you to be a resident of the state, while others require you to use a third-party application to make your purchase. While many jurisdictions have set limits on how much you can spend, there are some sites that allow you to set a spending limit. The legal landscape is rapidly changing.
The best place to start is with a list of states that have online lottery sales. The legal landscape is favorable to additional states that follow suit. You can purchase tickets for any of the major drawing games online, including Mega Millions and Powerball. In addition, you can subscribe to a lottery service and receive a ticket for each drawing. The cost of these subscriptions varies, depending on how many drawings you want to participate in.
If you want to get in on the online lottery game, it is best to check out the official lottery website. If you don’t live in the state, you may still be able to purchase tickets by using an online lottery courier service. These services work with the state’s regulators to make sure your purchase is legal. However, you will likely be blocked if you try to purchase tickets from out of state.
There are also some third-party websites that claim to sell tickets online. The official lottery website charges the same price for online tickets as for the tickets you buy in person. The most popular is Jackpocket, which only works in states that have legal online lotteries. The iLottery system in Pennsylvania is also worth checking out.
The most obvious benefit of buying lottery tickets online is that you don’t have to drive or wait in line at a retail store. Alternatively, you can play the lottery in the comfort of your home. However, keep in mind that you won’t be able to cash your prize if you win a prize that is over $500. A larger prize may require you to fill out a claim form and send it in.
Some states have even opted to defer to third-party applications. For example, North Dakota has a Click & Play application that allows players to pool money and buy tickets for larger groups. The site also provides a lot of other useful features such as pooling numbers to be drawn for a pool game, checking numbers, and creating groups to play against.
The most important thing to know is that the legal landscape for buying lottery tickets online is rapidly changing. There are still many states that are not allowing online sales, citing verification challenges and other concerns. However, with the DOJ’s clarification in 2011, states can now begin selling lottery tickets online.