Online lottery is a type of gambling in which players place bets on the outcome of a random drawing. The games vary between states, but most of them have a similar setup: you log into an account on the lottery website and select your game. The site then handles the ticket purchasing process and notifies you of any winnings, if applicable.

There are two types of online lotteries: state-run and third-party sites. The state-run ones are usually operated by the official lottery provider in that particular jurisdiction. The third-party lotteries are a different story, as they operate as a portal for the state-run lotteries but do not actually draw the numbers themselves. The latter type of online lotteries are more common.

A good online lottery website is easy to use and offers a variety of payment methods. It should also have a quick and simple registration process, not to mention a dedicated mobile app. This way, you can play lottery games on the go and never worry about forgetting to buy a ticket. We also look for a good balance between available prizes and ticket prices.

Legal online lottery sales in the US got off to a slow start, with Minnesota choosing to discontinue its own lottery website in 2015. However, the recent Department of Justice reversal of its opinion on the Wire Act opened the door for more states to offer their residents the chance to play the lottery online. The District of Columbia was among the latest to do so, launching its iLottery in 2021.