The only safe and secure way to buy lottery tickets online is through official state lotteries. These websites use regulated and verified technologies to guarantee the legitimacy of results. In addition, they are tested by independent agencies like eCogra to uphold the integrity of all games and purchases. Online lottery sites are also a great place to find the best deals and offers.
The number of states offering legal online lottery gaming continues to grow, and more are expected to approve it in the future. State-regulated online lottery platforms allow players to purchase secure lottery tickets for in-state instant win games and multi-state pools such as Powerball and Mega Millions. Some of these sites are mobile-friendly and offer a variety of payment methods. In addition, many of these sites have a secure website that complies with PCI standards and is encrypted to ensure player security.
In addition to state-regulated online lottery games, some states have authorized third-party lottery courier services that allow players to buy tickets online. These lottery courier apps allow players to make a selection online, then the service sends agents to buy tickets from authorized retailers on behalf of the player. These services are available in more than a dozen states, including New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The most popular online lottery courier app is Jackpocket, which operates in several states and has been approved by regulators.
In New York, the online lottery is called iLottery, and it offers fun eInstant games that can be played on computers or mobile devices. The games are free to play, and winnings are automatically deposited into a player’s account. The site is available 24 hours a day, and players can choose from more than 100 games. New Yorkers can also buy traditional lottery tickets at thousands of 7-Eleven stores, pharmacies, and tobacconists across the state.
Pennsylvania has a similar online lottery platform that offers draw games, scratch-offs, and instant win games. The website is easy to navigate, and it is mobile-friendly. In addition to a robust assortment of games, the PA iLottery site has an extensive FAQ section and helpful guides for first-time users.
Despite concerns about cannibalization, there are no signs that online lottery products are hurting retail sales of traditional lottery tickets. In fact, the PA iLottery has seen its sales increase every year since it launched in 2018. Similarly, traditional lottery sales continue to rise in states that have introduced iLottery offerings.
The District of Columbia was the latest jurisdiction to launch an online lottery, launching its iLottery site in January 2021. The site features a collection of instant games from IWG, with prices ranging from $0.05 to $20 and top prizes as high as $100,000 in games such as Doublin’s Doubloons and Jungle Tumble Jackpots. In addition, the iLottery offers Keno and single-state pool games. The games are licensed to IWG and NeoPollard, which are both headquartered in the US.