You can purchase lottery tickets online in a growing number of US states. Many of these sites have robust age verification measures in place to prevent underage gambling and other problems related to gaming. They also typically provide information on responsible gambling resources, support services, and helplines. In addition, they must abide by state regulations and ensure that players are located within their jurisdictions before allowing them to play.
Whether you want to play the Powerball or Mega Millions, or one of many other instant games, you can buy tickets online in 45 US states, plus Washington, D.C, and Puerto Rico. Some of the online lottery platforms, like Illinois Lottery’s Jackpocket, allow you to purchase tickets directly from your computer or mobile device while others sell them through third-party vendors. In any case, a portion of your ticket price goes towards supporting state programs, organizations, and charities.
Another option for buying lottery tickets is through an online lottery agent, which charges a premium to purchase and scan your ticket on your behalf. However, these agents do not have the same level of security as official lottery websites.
In most cases, the best way to find a safe and reliable lottery website is by checking its license and certification. The majority of reputable lottery websites will have a NCPG ICAP certificate, which means that they follow industry standards and protect your personal information. The rest will have a state-specific license, which means that they are approved by the appropriate lottery commission.