Online lottery is an exciting form of gambling that offers players a chance to win big prizes without leaving their home. It’s legal in most states and can be played on desktops and mobile devices. However, it’s important to choose the right lottery site for your needs.

Find the best site to play the lottery

The most common way to play online is through a licensed website, which will be regulated by a state gaming authority and have a clear licensing information panel visible on the site. Regulated sites will also offer reputable payment methods, SSL encryption software and password-protected accounts to keep your personal details safe.

Check the terms and conditions of a lottery site

A good online lottery site should make it easy to get in touch with customer support. It should be available at all times, respond to emails quickly and clearly and offer a range of ways to contact the site. If a site is hard to reach, ignores your emails or doesn’t offer direct contact, it may be a scam.

Access a wide selection of games

The top lottery sites should have plenty of games to choose from, including scratch cards, keno, and casino-style games. They should also have a wide range of lottery draws, such as Powerball and MegaMillions.

Ensure your safety and security

All lottery sites are legally licensed, so they’re regulated by a state’s gaming authority and have a secure server. You should be able to deposit and withdraw funds safely using Visa, MasterCard, PayPal or ACH.

Sign up for a subscription

Some states have an online lottery ticket subscription service, which allows you to purchase tickets into every drawing for weeks or months at a time. It’s a great way to save money and guarantee your entry in every draw.

Pick your numbers

Whether you want to play online or at the local lottery shop, you need to know how to pick your numbers. Some states offer straight picks, where the numbers are picked in a specific order; others allow box choices. A straight pick wins if all of the numbers are drawn in the same order, while a box selection wins if one or more of the numbers match the ones you picked.

Play the lottery on your phone

Most legal online lotteries have an app that allows you to buy tickets from your mobile device. Some of these apps can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or the App Store for iOS devices, while others require you to use a dedicated state-sponsored app.

Play the lottery on your desktop or tablet

The majority of legal online lottery sites offer both desktop and mobile versions of their platforms. You can play the lottery on any computer with a stable internet connection, or download an app to your smartphone or tablet for added convenience.

Some lottery sites allow you to play the lottery from any location, but others restrict their offerings to US-based players. If you’re planning to play the lottery from a foreign country, be sure to choose a site that offers the correct currency for the area you plan to visit.