The United States is home to 44 state-wide lotteries. The US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia also host lotteries. There are no state-wide lotteries in Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, or Nevada. Several states offer federal-level lottery games, such as Mega Millions and Powerball. In some cases, the two games are regarded as de facto national lottery games. The Powerball game has a jackpot of over $1 billion, and is available in most U.S. states.
The Internet has made it possible to play the lottery on your mobile device. Lottery apps provide the same features as the traditional lottery, such as printouts of winning numbers. However, playing online is a little more difficult. Online lottery sites don’t require you to buy a physical ticket. Most online lottery sites also offer a much larger variety of games than retail locations, so you can find more entertainment with them than you would with a scratch-off lottery.
Some states have legal restrictions regarding online lottery sales. Although it’s not always legal, some states have authorized certain third-party courier services to sell lottery tickets online. Jackpocket is a popular example of an online lottery ticket reseller. The legality of buying lottery tickets online is up for debate, as online scams are more common than ever before. It’s best to play the lottery on a state-run lottery website, which will pay the jackpot for you.
In terms of games, the California State Lottery launched operations in 1984. It offers Mega Millions and Powerball multi-state games, and is a charter member of the Multi-State Lottery Association. Most of its profits go to public schools and colleges, while Colorado’s lottery runs a variety of multi-state games such as Powerball, Lucky for Life, and Mega Millions. The state lottery’s proceeds go to public programs, including parks and open space conservation.
Powerball is America’s oldest interstate lottery. Launched in 1992, Power Ball is now available in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Its jackpot is the largest ever at $1.586 billion. Players choose five numbers, ranging from one to 69, plus the bonus number. MegaMillions players have the option of purchasing a Megaplier option, which multiplies non-jackpot prizes up to 10x. Its draws are held every Wednesday and Saturday night.
In 2012, the Illinois lottery launched an online sales program. Legislators debated whether or not to continue the online sales program, but ultimately decided to renew it. Currently, online lottery subscribers in Illinois can purchase tickets for Powerball, Mega Millions, Pick 3 and Pick 4 daily games. In 2021, the Illinois Lottery will launch online instant-win games called Fast Play. These games are similar to scratch cards. These online lotteries offer more options than the traditional lottery games.