Can We Buy Lottery Online

Posted on4/12/2022by admin

Can I Play Lottery Online
Can We Buy Lottery Online In India
Can I Buy Lottery Online
Can You Play The Lottery Online

Can you buy a lottery ticket online? In this modern online age you'd think it would be easy. Not so much.

The short answer to the question is that most states do not officially sell tickets online. A few do. But they only sell to players in those states - and yes, they do check closely.

And even for those states that do let you buy ticket online, they may not offer all your normal game choices! Or even let you pick numbers for tonight.

Lottery tickets may be purchased at any of the 21,000 plus retailer locations throughout the state, or you can purchase tickets online. The internet has made it possible to get your name in the hat with chances to win some of the fabulous prizes in the California Lottery without ever even leaving home! Other players can legally buy Mega Millions Lottery tickets online through the lottery agent you see mentioned above. With the jackpot listed as $970 Million dollars as of October 18, 2018, players don't want to skip the drawings for this game!

Some Do, Some Don't - Why Not?

It mostly comes back to some pretty old legislation, the Wire Act of 1961. This was deemed to block companies from offering tickets online because they couldn't guarantee that the data would not cross state lines - even for in-state purchases.

Given this act was put in place before the internet even existed, it seems fairly silly that it would apply now. Which is why in 2009 the New York lottery together with the office of the Illinois governor wrote to the Department of Justice. They wanted this reviewed so they could provide online options for players living in their states.

It was TWO YEARS later (2011) that Assistant U.S. Attorney General said that in her opinion the Wire Act did not apply in this case. Hurrah, common sense wins the day.

But despite that decision, lottery companies have been extremely slow to move. Most still don't provide the convenience of online play that other countries around the world have been enjoying for many years.

So What States Do Provide Online Tickets?

Right now, there are 9 states that sell lottery tickets online in some form:-

Georgia
Illinois
Kentucky
Michigan
North Carolina
North Dakota
New Hampshire
New York
Virginia
NOTE: but read below because it's not that simple.

That's not many, but it's dramatically better than zero just a few years ago!

But can you buy lottery tickets online from another state? No, sadly you cannot buy from a different state than the one you live in. That rule is very unlikely to ever change. Despite that fact you can drive to another state and perfectly legally buy tickets that way. It's just too complex as each state is a different company and they want to protect their own revenue.

Also note that you cannot pick numbers for tonight in all of these states. New Hampshire, New York and Virginia only offer subscriptions - i.e. playing the same numbers for a set period of time. You cannot change those numbers!

You will also find not all games you can play at a retailer are available online. You can play Powerball online in Illinois, but not in Michigan. You can buy a Mega Millions ticket online in North Carolina, but not Pick 4 or Keno. And New York only offers Lotto, Mega Millions and Cash 4 Life by subscription. And the process is so clunky and laborious.

It all feels a lot like being back in the 1990's.

Are There Any Other Options?

Yes, there are. Lots of companies exist that will buy lottery tickets on your behalf, or there are others that let you bet on the outcome of a lottery draw (rather than buy an actual ticket).

Neither option is as good as living in the right state. But they are definitely an option if you want to play a particular game.

If you ask the official lottery companies though, they will of course say 'no', and offer up some scare stories to put you off. But even the official Mega Millions website is now coming round to the fact that other options are available AND are very popular too. Here's their 'ringing endorsement' ;-)

'Mega Millions is not affiliated with and does not endorse any company claiming to sell our tickets around the world, online or otherwise. If you choose to do business with one of these companies, you do so at your own risk.'

What you need to understand from this is that there are good companies and bad companies. So do NOT just use any old company you found from a Google search! Read our reviews, and only choose companies that have an excellent reputation and/or have been operating for a long time.

Can You Trust These Companies? Is It Safe?

Yes, and no. Some of these companies have been selling tickets since 2002 and are still going strong. Others come and go. Choose a well established company and you are unlikely to have a problem.

There are plenty of examples of big winners that have played in this way. But if you want a nice extreme example, take the case of the man living in Iraq, Baghdad no less. He won $6.4 Million on the Oregon lottery playing Megabucks in 2015. He bought his ticket online whilst in Iraq, using a London based company. That company used their local agent in Oregon to buy the actual ticket.

The Iraqi man even flew to the USA to claim in person, where the local ticket agent handed him the winning ticket (it never even left the state). The Oregon lottery had no idea who the winner was until the 40-something Iraqi walked into the Lottery Headquarters on 1st December to claim. He chose the annuity option and is now receiving $158,720 a year for 25 years (he still paid both federal and state taxes).

This was also a rare case where the winner was allowed anonymity. Baghdad is a dangerous place to live, particularly if you just won a major US lottery prize. So due to the genuine threat this put on his life, his name and photo have never been released.

Oh, and Oregon still doesn't provide online ticket sales to state residents, even now.

How It Works

By combining global messenger services with the worldwide reach of the Internet, for a nominal fee, legal online lottery agents purchase tickets for you on your behalf. Those tickets are then scanned and the images e-mailed to you, and if you win big, these companies will even help you collect. Many of the sites offer tools which help you choose the lotteries which offer the best odds, you can filter the games by jackpot size or draw dates and you can improve your odds by joining lottery syndicates, or arrange for automatic purchasing of your favorite lottery tickets every week through a subscription service. You can learn more about these agents by accessing our online lottery site reviews.

WinTrillions is the messenger service we recommend for US players. In business since 2005, WinTrillions has been providing players a transparent and legal way to play lotteries from all over the globe from the comfort of their own home. Whether you are looking to purchase your Powerball tickets, or want to join a syndicate and play some of the biggest lottery jackpots in the world, WinTrillions is one of the better choices.

Pros

All USA players accepted
Purchase Lottery Tickets From All Over The World
Good Customer Service
Generous Bonuses And Rewards To Loyal Customers
Easy Credit Card Funding

Cons

Numerous complaints about players getting charged after they've cancelled subscription

Top USA Online Lottery Sites

Site	Review	Bonus Offer	USA	Visit
Read Review	30% Off Discount	Play now

Where Can I Buy Mega Millions Lottery Tickets Online?

Players fortunate enough to live where state-regulated online lottery services are available can typically also purchase their Mega Millions Lottery tickets there as well as tickets to the state lottery games. Other players can legally buy Mega Millions Lottery tickets online through the lottery agent you see mentioned above. With the jackpot listed as $970 Million dollars as of October 18, 2018, players don't want to skip the drawings for this game!

FAQ's About Legally Buying Lottery Tickets On The Internet

Buying lottery tickets online has become an easy and convenient solution for US players. How then, can a consumer know if a website is legit, safe, and secure? To ensure that you understand the nuances of using a reputable and legitimately licensed lottery service, a list of frequently asked questions is available below. The list answers the questions on legal issues, choosing your numbers, and purchase options.

Is Playing Online Lottery Legal In The USA?

Upon the DOJ's legal opinion concerning the Federal Wire Act, the regulation of lottery games is left up to each individual state, with no federal laws in place that prohibit players from participating in online lottery games or from visiting licensed lottery agents online for the purpose of purchasing lottery tickets or subscription services.

Currently, there are approximately 42 states which offer one or more state lottery games and/or that participate in the multi-jurisdictional lottery games such as Mega Millions and Powerball games. Several of these states, including Georgia, Illinois, and Minnesota already have a process in place that supports online ticket purchasing, while other states, including New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Virginia have integrated state-sanctioned online lottery subscription services.

Several states, including California, allow private lottery agents to provide online lottery subscription and lottery ticket purchasing services to players. The caveat is that you must be a resident of one of these states in order to be eligible to register for and participate in the state's official online lottery ticket services. Residents of all states can legally utilize the services of the lottery messenger agents listed on this page.

Can I Use My Favorite Numbers When I Buy My Lottery Ticket Online?

When purchasing a lottery ticket, players have the option to either use their favorite numbers or take advantage of the quick pick option. The quick pick option randomly picks numbers electronically using the same type of functionality that you see at brick and mortar lottery retailers.

What Is A Lottery Syndicate?

A lottery syndicate is where a group of people buys a lottery ticket to increase their chance of winnings. This allows them to buy even more games. More games mean more chances of winning. If the syndicate wins, the prizes are divided up evenly among the group. The syndicate is not limited to individuals, but businesses and entities as well.

Can I Play Lottery Online

What Is A Lottery Subscription Service And Are There Advantages To Using Them?

A lottery subscription service is a service that buys lottery tickets on your behalf in the state where you live. The advantage of a lottery subscription is the convenience, and the ability to manage all of your lottery games.

If I Purchase A Ticket Through A Lottery Agent, How Do I Know If I Won?

Most lottery sites will send you an email if you win. You can also signup for email and sms alerts on some sites for constant updates.

If My Ticket Is A Winner, How Do I Claim My Winnings?

For winnings below $600, winnings are typically credited to your online account. You can purchase additional tickets or withdraw your winnings. For any winnings above $600, you will receive a personal call from the lottery site to arrange payment.

Do These Sites Also Offer Scratch-off Tickets?

The sites listed on this particular page actually do not offer any sort of instant win scratch-off games. However we have another page dedicated to playing online scratchoff lottery tickets legally that will recommend some excellent places to play that are all US friendly.

Is Buying Lottery Tickets Online Safe?

The online lottery sites that we endorse are all legally licensed and regulated in their respective jurisdictions. Keep in mind these are huge companies with deep pockets that have been in business for years, so it's 100% safe to do business with these companies. They guarantee payment on winnings and will facilitate the collection process with their winners' support team dedicated to helping players claim winnings.

VIP And Rewards

Many of these sites offer a rewards program similar to what you would find in Las Vegas. The more tickets you purchase, the more rewards and special promotions will be available to you. Each website offers a little something different, so it doesn't hurt to spend a few minutes familiarizing yourself with the inner workings of their VIP program.

Biggest Lotteries

Powerball – The largest jackpot in the game's history, and the largest single prize ever on one ticket, was the $595 million mentioned above. Consistently above $60 million, and routinely over $100, the jackpot here is always one of the biggest in the world. There are 9 levels of prizes awarded in the 45-state combined lottery, and Powerball is drawn twice a week.

Mega Millions – Starting at $15 million and supported by multiple jurisdictions that cause it to grow rapidly, the US Mega Millions lottery has issued a $656 million jackpot (3 winners), a single ticket $319 million payday and a $648 million jackpot split by 2 ticket holders, with all of those wins recorded in just a 32 month period ending December 17, 2013. Fast forward to October, 2018 and the jackpot is looming at just under $1 Billion. Mega Millions is drawn twice a week.

EuroMillions – Delivering Europe's biggest lottery prizes and a guaranteed €15 million jackpot, EuroMillions began making millionaires in 2004 with a twice-a-week draw. Jackpot totals of €190 million ($256.8 million), €187 million ($252 million), €162 million ($219 million) and several over €80 million ($108 million) have already been won playing EuroMillions.

Lotteries With the Best Overall Odds

Australia Saturday Lotto – With a 6/45 structure and 6 pay levels, you have a 1 in 85 chance of winning some prize in the Australia Saturday Lotto. Currently offering a guaranteed $4 million first prize and regularly paying as much as $30 million or more, the Australian Saturday Lotto boasts some of the best odds of any lottery in the world.

La Primitiva - Spain's weekly La Primitiva is the oldest national lottery draw in the world, running since 1812. With its 6/49 structure and 6 prize levels, it is very attractive statistically. The record jackpot is €30 Million and you have a 1-in-10 chance of winning a cash prize due to the many levels of prizes awarded. La Primitiva pays out more than €1 Billion annually.

Florida Mega Money – choosing just 4 out of 44 numbers with a Mega ball, and delivering 8 levels of winning, the Florida Mega Money lottery is a smart statistical play. This makes your overall Jackpot odds just 1 in 2.98 million, one of the most favorable of any lottery in the world. You also enjoy a 1 in 12.58 chance at winning some prize.

Can We Buy Lottery Online In India

States Participating In Multi-State Lottery Games

Powerball - Arizona (AZ), Arkansas (AR), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), District Of Columbia (DC), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Missouri (MO), Montana (MT), Nebraska (NE), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New Mexico (NM), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), North Dakota (ND), Ohio (OH), Oklahoma (OK), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), South Dakota (SD), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Vermont (VT), Virginia (VA), Virgin Islands (VI), Washington (WA), West Virginia (WV) and Wisconsin (WI).

Can I Buy Lottery Online

Mega Millions - all but 6 states

Lottery Website Resources

Can You Play The Lottery Online

The following resources are helpful to lottery players and offer useful information such as winning numbers, past winner bios and more.

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