Online lottery sites are available across the US. Often, those are offerings directly from the state (or D.C.) lottery. In other states, you can buy a lottery ticket through an online courier service. And in many regions, you can do both! In our guide, we will break down where you can play the lottery online in the USA. And, of course, we will show you how to do so.
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Can I buy lottery tickets online?
Yes, you can buy lottery tickets online at licensed US state-regulated lottery websites.
Official lottery sites
Players should participate in online lotteries only through legal, state-run sites, which use secure technologies to operate their websites. The lotteries are regulated and tested by outside independent agencies like eCogra to uphold the legitimacy of outcomes.
Here are the states with online components to their government-run lotteries:
- Connecticut
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Virginia
- Washington DC
And if you don’t see your jurisdiction on the list, be patient. A few new states are adding online lottery every year. Yours could be coming soon.
Lottery couriers
In addition to official state online lottery websites, there are notable online lottery couriers.
If you make a purchase through a lottery courier, the company sends someone to the store to buy a ticket for you. Then, the ticket is uploaded to your account. If you win, the money is paid directly by the courier, or the ticket is sent back to you to cash.
Jackpocket is considered the most popular online lottery app in the US and others like The Lotter and Jackpot.com are also available in US states.
Before choosing a lottery courier, make sure that the agent is operating in the state of your choice.
What are online lottery number generators?
Some players can use these generators, similar to the random number generators used for online casino games, trying to seek an edge in winning the lottery. The fact is, using online lottery number generators are just another way of picking certain numbers – perhaps it is even popular because it takes any emotional influence out of the picks.
Our experts have passed along information about lottery number generators so you can decide if using one is right for you. For many players, it’s more exciting and investing to play with numbers they pick on their own. Here are a few variations:
Advantages of using lottery number generators
Using these online lottery number generators can be helpful for players both new and experienced. With these generators, players can quickly navigate to number combinations they like and keep track of their favorite selections. There are unlimited options to choose from with these generators
Powerball Number Generator
In Powerball, players select five numbers from a set of 69 white balls and one number from 26 red balls. The Red balls are Powerballs; Players win by matching three white balls or the red Powerball number. Why not buy Powerball tickets online?
Two machines are used for each drawing, randomly selected from four sets. The Powerball machine model is Halogen, manufactured by Smartplay International.
Powerball has become one of the most popular forms of lottery in the US since it debuted on a much smaller scale in 1992: In November 2022, the largest Powerball payday ever – $2.04 billion – was won by a man in California.
Powerball has also made its way into the US Online Casino world, with slot machines under the Brand name. Powerball drawings are supervised by Carol & Company, CPA.
Powerball is available in 45 states, including Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The only mainland US states without Powerball are Alabama, Nevada and Utah.
Mega Millions Number Generator
Perhaps the most well-known lottery game in the US, the Mega Millions began in 1996 with six states contributing.
Now, the Mega Millions is in nearly every state – played in 47 US jurisdictions. In 2010, the Mega Millions joined forces with Powerball, adding 23 states to the lottery and becoming one of the top US lottery games.
In its history, there have been four Mega Millions jackpots over $1 billion, most recently in January 2023 on a ticket sold in Maine. Buy your Mega Millions ticket online now!
SuperLotto Plus Number Generator
SuperLotto Plus is the biggest state-exclusive lottery in the US. SuperLottoPlus is only available in California, with a jackpot starting at $7 million, drawing twice a week on Wednesday and Saturday.
The lottery number generator of SuperLotto Plus is similar to that of Powerball; match all five base numbers with the bonus number and hit the big money jackpot.
Pick 3 & Pick 4 Number Generator
Most US states with lottery have Pick 3 and Pick 4 games. In these games, there are 3 and 4 digit positions, with each position containing a digit 0-9. All the possible combinations of digits in each of those positions, there are a total number of combinations which can be won as straight combinations.
Pick 3 and Pick 4 are enjoyed by players of all lottery experience levels for the variety of combinations a player could potentially hit.
Pick 3 Generator
Pick 4 Generator
Online Lottery Ticket Prices
| State | Powerball Price | Mega Millions Price |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | $2 | $2 |
| Pennsylvania | $2 | $2 |
| Virginia | $2 | $2 |
| Illinois | $2 | $2 |
| Kentucky | $2 | $2 |
| New Hampshire | $2 | $2 |
| New Jersey | $2 | $2 |
How do I know if this online lotto site is real?
The first thing to know: Only the US online lottery official state links are recommended by the PlayUSA team. If you’re playing at a state-regulated lottery site or mobile app, you’re in good hands. Currently, there are 12 US states offering online lottery. Every state’s online lottery is licensed and regulated by independent studies.
As a player, you should beware of sites claiming to offer online lottery tickets that are not specifically labeled as state-official. Quite simply, there are only a handful of sites to play safe and secure online lottery so stick to the legalized lotteries so your chances are in fair hands.
History of online lotto in the US
Online lottery in the US is more than a decade old. The first state to legalize online lottery was Illinois in 2012. Now, with the expanded presence of Mega Millions and Powerball, many more US states are moving in an online direction.
US States that offer online lotteries
Since online lottery became legal in Illinois in 2012, 11 other states have followed suit: Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia (plus Washington DC).