Online Lottery Sites
If you’ve ever thought about playing the lottery, you probably don’t have to go very far to find a good online lottery site. These sites are generally run by private companies, and offer an array of games. Whether you play for money or just for fun, you should make sure to read the rules and learn about the various deposit and withdrawal options. You also need to understand how the lottery works in your state. Some states restrict the sale of tickets for online lottery games. However, most legal platforms allow players to deposit and withdraw money using a variety of methods.
Online lottery ticket prices vary by state, and some sites include additional fees. Many lottery games cap out at a certain amount, but a few have jackpots in the millions. Tickets can cost as little as $0.05 for some games. Typically, the cost of a ticket does not include the entry fee or handling costs.
Several states in the Northeast are actively trying to legalize the online lottery. New Jersey and Massachusetts have bills in the works. Rhode Island is in the early stages of legalizing the online lottery. In other parts of the country, including Maryland and Connecticut, the legislation is stalled for now. Still, a handful of other jurisdictions are offering their own versions of this innovative game.
Online lotteries are relatively new in the U.S., but they are making headway. In the past year, several states have approved online lottery sales and some are in the process of doing so. As of October 2018, the following eight jurisdictions offer online lottery games: Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Washington. There are plans to expand these offerings into more states in the near future.
The first jurisdiction to offer online lottery sales in the United States was Illinois. A year later, however, the lottery was canceled. This was a result of the Wire Act being interpreted as prohibiting the sale of online tickets.
In 2011, the Department of Justice clarified its position on the Wire Act, opening the doors to states to sell tickets on their own websites. Despite this, a number of other jurisdictions have remained a step behind, and most have deferred to a third-party application.
Since then, ten US states have introduced online lottery games, and five of them, including Maryland, are in the midst of a full-scale implementation. In addition to the official state lottery websites, there are a handful of other sites that let you purchase your own tickets. Regardless of which site you choose, you’ll find a wide selection of games and other useful features.
While online lotteries aren’t as popular as traditional games, they can be a good way to win some cash. Most states have an official website and mobile app, which will provide you with the opportunity to browse the games and see which ones are available. Additionally, many sites have tutorials to help you get started.