Online lottery is a type of gambling where players participate in national lotteries and other games from the comfort of their home. They can choose from a variety of different types of games, including scratch-offs, keno, raffles, and discount ticket lotteries. They can also use ACH/eCheck, PayPal, and credit cards to make deposits and withdrawals. They can even find a site that offers them a deposit match bonus!
The United States has a relatively short history with online lotteries, though the landscape is changing rapidly. The first legal online lotteries were started in Illinois in 2012. Since then, more states have passed laws to allow for online purchase of state-specific lottery games. In addition, some have launched multi-state games like Mega Millions and Powerball, with grand prizes in excess of a billion dollars.
These online lotteries use technology to connect players with local lottery agents, who purchase tickets on their behalf and upload them to a secure database. This means that winners can receive their winnings within days. This method also reduces fraud risks, which are much higher when tickets are sold in convenience stores and gas stations.
Many interactive gaming products have a specialty games tab in their product lobbies that feature online lotteries, along with other popular games such as keno and bingo. These games are a good alternative to playing at casinos, as they don’t require a large amount of cash. In addition, they are often a little easier to play and offer more generous jackpots.