Online lottery is a form of gambling that allows players to participate in lotteries from the comfort of their homes. Instead of purchasing a physical ticket, the player purchases entries into an official government-run lottery game via an online lottery website or mobile app. Many sites also offer additional games, including scratchcards and slots. The best sites will allow players to deposit and withdraw funds through a variety of methods, including ACH/eCheck, PayPal, credit cards, and even Bitcoin transactions.
When playing an online lottery, players must ensure they are legally located in the state in which they play. Federal law prohibits lottery sales across state lines, so most legal online lottery websites will use geolocation technology to verify that each purchase is made from within the player’s state of residence. This helps to prevent the sale of fraudulent tickets.
Aside from checking the site’s legality, there are a few other things to keep in mind when choosing an online lottery. Players should always check the site’s terms of service and privacy policy. A reputable site will always be transparent and straightforward with its players.
Local retail stores are rightfully concerned that the introduction of online lotteries will harm their business by taking away in-person lottery sales. However, there is no evidence that shows this will be the case. In fact, some states that have already legalized online lottery are finding that they can increase their lottery sales without losing any of their brick-and-mortar customers.