The online lottery refers to the purchase and play of lottery tickets via a computerized system that records, processes, and transmits bets, winning numbers, and other information. There are several types of online lottery: state-run lotteries, third-party online lottery courier services, and private lotto websites that offer real odds and prizes but are not run by a government or public authority. Some of these sites act as bookmakers and take bets on the outcome of a lottery, similar to betting on sports.

In the United States, the first state to allow residents to buy lottery tickets online was Illinois in 2012. Since then, six other states have made it legal to play online: Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania. Online lottery games range from Powerball and Mega Millions to smaller pick games like Pick-3 and Pick-4, where players select a certain number of digits from three or four positions.

Online lottery players can choose whether to play a single ticket, multiple entries in a particular drawing, or an entire draw series. They can also make payments and renewals through an online account. Many online lottery platforms use geolocation to monitor the location of users to verify they are native residents of their respective jurisdictions.

When choosing a white label online lottery platform, be sure to research providers carefully and look for one that offers a variety of gaming options and mobile accessibility. Mobile users represent more than 50% of all lottery platform buyers, so it’s important to be able to cater to their needs.