If you’d like to play the official lottery, there are several things you need to know before buying a ticket. First, you need to make sure that you’re over the age of eighteen. You’ll also need to pay for your ticket in cash. Tickets are sold at lottery retailers throughout the state. You can also buy them online. You should also read the official lottery rules before playing. The rules will tell you the rules for the South Carolina Education Lottery.

If you don’t feel comfortable standing in line at the lottery store, there are online lottery courier services you can use to order tickets. The most prominent among these services is Jackpocket, which operates in the states that allow online lottery sales. These services can be very convenient, but it is important to make sure that you do so.

Online lottery services are usually licensed by the gaming authority. If you’re betting online, look for the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) lock icon in the address bar of your web browser. This will ensure that all information that you share is safe. This is a good sign that the official lottery website has security measures in place to protect your information.

Another important consideration is the type of prize your lottery offers. Some lotteries offer fixed amounts of cash or goods to winners. Others use a fixed percentage of the proceeds from ticket sales. In addition, many lotteries now allow people to choose their own numbers. Some even allow multiple winners.