The online lottery is a growing market. This is due to intense internet penetration, improved betting process and a greater convenience in terms of accessing and buying tickets. In addition, the online lottery offers players a wide range of payment options such as credit and debit cards, PayPal, ACH/eCheck, PayNearMe, and more. This is an advantage for players, especially those who are always on the go and don’t have time to visit a brick-and-mortar lotto store.

The legality of online lottery varies by state. Some states require a third-party app while others allow their citizens to make purchases on the official lottery website. In either case, lottery fans can choose from a variety of games that include the popular scratch-offs and drawing-based lotteries. Some of these games even offer the chance to win big jackpots!

In the US, the first online lottery launched in 2011, and it quickly gained traction. In the years since, more and more states have joined in to offer their residents the opportunity to play. Some of the most notable additions to the list are New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. The latter launched its online lottery in 2018. The iLottery allows residents to purchase tickets and instant-win games from home or work.

Retailers who sell lottery tickets in person have to be licensed, which means they’ve been vetted for criminal backgrounds and checked against illegal gambling schemes. But it’s harder to track who is selling tickets on the internet, where many websites are run by bogus companies that take advantage of consumers. Fortunately, most state governments are now offering ways for people to buy tickets online without getting scammed by fly-by-night businesses.

Another way to purchase lottery tickets online is by using a ticketing agent. These sites do not actually sell the tickets; they act as bookmakers and place bets on the outcomes of popular lotteries around the world. Some of the best ones are fully regulated and licensed, and they donate a portion of their profits to charities. For example, the Kentucky Lottery gives some of its proceeds to the KEES scholarship program for students from low-income families.

The biggest multi-state lottery in the US is called MegaMillions, which offers players from all 50 states and the District of Columbia the chance to win a $1 billion prize. The game is played twice each week, and you can purchase tickets at participating states’ regulated websites or via the Jackpocket mobile app.

While some critics fear that online lotteries will cannibalize traditional sales, there’s no evidence of that yet. In fact, state lottery sales have grown every year since Pennsylvania’s iLottery launched in 2018, and that growth is expected to continue. Moreover, the majority of states are working on their own digital versions of their lotteries, and the number will likely continue to rise as technology advances.