Can You Play the Lottery Online?
Playing the lottery online is the most convenient way to buy tickets. Sadly, not every state allows residents to buy lottery tickets online. In fact, there are only seven states that currently allow you to purchase your lottery tickets over the Internet.
Players in these states have the unique advantage of being able to purchase tickets with the click of a button. They can even buy online lottery tickets from their phones and other mobile devices. Keep reading to see which states allow players to obtain lottery tickets online.
Can You Play the Lottery Online?
Online gambling is growing at an extremely fast pace in the US. These states are already ahead of the game by allowing players to play the lottery online.
Georgia
The Peach State does not allow land-based casinos within its borders. Luckily, residents of Georgia can still gamble through the state lottery. They can even purchase their lottery tickets online.
Online lottery sales were approved by the state in 2012. Since then, the Peach State’s lottery options have grown significantly. Players have access to both the in-state and interstate lottery options.
The games available to Georgians through the official state lottery include:
- Draw games
- Diggi games
- Scratchers
- Second chance drawings
- Seasonal promotions
Of all of the options available, it is the draw games that really shine. Georgians can play 11 different draw-style games from the state’s official lottery website. This includes popular interstate options like Mega Millions and Powerball.
The Diggi games option is also a popular lottery-style game in the Peach State. These games are similar to scratch cards, but they have special themes. For instance, some of the themes include pinball, Wheel of Fortune, and crosswords.
Illinois
Another state that allows you to play the lottery online is Illinois. The Prairie State has six different draw games available for players to choose from. You can purchase tickets for any of these games online:
- Mega Millions with Megaplier
- Powerball with Power Play
- Lucky Day Lotto
- Lotto Extra Shot
- Pick 3 Plus Fireball
- Pick 4 Plus Fireball
Both the Pick 3 and Pick 4 games have two drawings every day. The four remaining games have weekly drawings. Players can review results from previous drawings right on the Illinois Lottery website.
An Illinois Lottery player won $1 million on Good Friday with a Lucky Day Lotto ticket. https://t.co/dCprcYp7Il
— FOX 32 News (@fox32news) April 11, 2023
Draw-style games above are not the only option for playing lottery games online in Illinois. The state lottery also offers instant tickets, fast-play games, and second-chance drawings. These are all fun alternatives to normal draw-style games.
The Illinois Lottery also allows players to access their games from mobile devices. You can start playing from your favorite devices by downloading the mobile app from the state lottery’s official website.
Kentucky
Residents of the Bluegrass State also have the option of playing the lottery online. The Kentucky Lottery has dozens of options for draw games and scratch-offs available.
The website is well-organized, and the user interface is easy to navigate. There are even regularly occurring promotions and events that offer more chances to win prizes. For instance, members can receive a 50% deposit match on their first deposit.
That money will certainly come in handy when you are deciding which games to play. Players have plenty of games to choose from, including interstate lotteries such as Mega Millions and Powerball.
Many of the scratch-off games offered by the Kentucky Lottery have fixed prizes. However, there are a few that offer progressive prizes as well. These are great options for people who want to win a progressive jackpot without waiting for weekly drawings to take place.
Michigan
The Wolverine State legalized regulated online gambling in 2019. Residents of Michigan can play over 100 lottery games on the state lottery’s website. There are seven different styles of lottery games offered, including:
- Instant play
- Draw
- Fast cash
- Pull tab
- Keno
- Second chance
- Raffle
Players can also sort games by theme, prize amounts, and cost. The sort function is super helpful and makes the 188-game selection very organized. Michigan also has a demo mode feature, so you can test each game before you spend money on it.
The Michigan Lottery’s online games are a great option for players looking to celebrate their 18th birthday. Michigan residents only need to be 18 years old to play the lottery online. Retail brick-and-mortar casinos in the Wolverine State require players to be 21 years of age.
New Hampshire
Residents of New Hampshire can play the lottery online, too. The Granite State offers dozens of lottery-style games online. You can purchase tickets for as little as five cents per ticket.
There are three different progressive jackpots available, too. Jackpots are grouped into one of three series. All of the games in a series contribute to the prize pool for that series.
The New Hampshire Lottery also offers dozens of games that have individual jackpot prizes. Some games, such as the Jungle Tumble Jackpots game, have their own progressive prizes. Even the games with non-progressive prize pools can have five and six-figure prizes.
In addition to in-state games, residents of New Hampshire can also buy interstate lottery tickets. You can purchase tickets for Powerball, Mega Millions, and others. There is also an auto-renewal option so you can easily compete in every drawing.
New Jersey
The Garden State is one of the best states for gambling in the US. New Jersey has great options for casinos, sports betting, and, of course, the lottery. The online lottery options in New Jersey include multiple styles of draw games, scratch-offs, and second-chance drawings.
New Jersey offers both progressive and fixed prizes. The Cash 4 Life game even offers players the chance to win $1,000 every day or week for the rest of their life.
Some of the other online lottery games available in the Garden State include:
- Pick 6 with Double Play
- Fast Play Progressive
- Cash Pop
- Quick Draw
- Million Dollar Replay
The site itself is well-organized, and you can see the previous winning numbers. There is even a mobile app, so the New Jersey Lottery is always just a click away. Other helpful player tools include a ticket checker, hot and cold numbers tracker, and monthly promotional offers.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania offers a robust selection of lottery games online as well. There are over 150 games available, including:
- Draw style games
- Scratch-offs
- Fast Play
- Keno
- Xpress Sports
The Pennsylvania Lottery updates its games on a regular basis. There is even a special section for new and popular games. The search function makes it easy to find the specific games you are looking for, too.
PA residents can play lottery games online for as little as $0.05 per ticket. The state lottery also offers a rewards program known as the VIP Players Club. It is free to join, and players can enjoy a ton of rewards such as exclusive second-chance drawings, coupons, and more.
Tips for Playing the Lottery Online
Playing the lottery online can be a ton of fun, especially when you are winning. Here are three tips to help you win more consistently when you are playing online lottery games.
Buy in Bulk
One of the best tips for people who want to win online lottery games is to be prepared to buy tickets in bulk. Your odds of winning the jackpot with just one ticket are extremely low. However, you can increase your odds of winning a prize by purchasing your tickets in bulk.
Even if you do not win the grand prize, you can still make plenty of money by winning smaller prizes. By purchasing your tickets in bulk, you give yourself the chance to win multiple smaller prizes.
Choose Games Carefully
Another important tip for lottery players is to make sure they are careful about which games they choose to play. It is easy to be drawn in by huge jackpots and low ticket prices. But there are other factors to consider, too.
For instance, you should consider the number of other players you are competing against. A large number of players can be great if you are playing a game with a progressive prize. But it also means that there are more people competing for the grand prize.
Take Advantage of Bonuses
A final tip for people playing lottery games online is to take advantage of bonus options. Pennsylvania, for instance, has a VIP rewards program for residents to take advantage of.
Even if your state lottery does not offer bonuses, you can still claim bonuses elsewhere. Wild Casino, for instance, is available across the US and has great casino bonuses available. The casino offers multiple keno games, scratch cards, and other lottery-style specialty games.
Does Your State Offer Online Lottery Games?
There are seven states that currently offer state-sponsored lottery games online. These are a great way to play in-state and inter-state lottery games online. Online casinos also offer lottery-style games for people who live in states without online lottery games.