Several jurisdictions in the US are offering online lottery games. Online lotteries allow players to purchase tickets online and play real money games, which increase jackpots quickly. They also allow players to check results and jackpots on their mobile phones or computers. Many sites also offer promotions and discounts.
The online lottery industry is relatively young in the US. As recently as 2015, eight jurisdictions were offering online lotteries. There are currently seven states offering online lotteries, as well as the District of Columbia. Some jurisdictions also offer instant games, which are casino-like games that can be played on the web or through mobile apps. While the majority of lottery games in the US offer top prizes of five figures, smaller prizes are also available. Some lottery games cap at less than $20, but others offer prizes of up to $200,000.
The first US state to offer an online lottery was Minnesota. That state ended its online lottery program in 2015. The state legislature voted to end the lottery in 2015, but the state does offer online lottery tickets through similar retailers in other states. However, the state’s online lottery is not legalized, so residents of Minnesota cannot buy tickets. The state did not require new law to legalize online lottery, but state regulators are now conducting research to determine how to invest in lottery services.
The best online lottery sites offer a variety of games. Some of the games available include the Mega Millions, Powerball, and Fantasy 5. There are also several lottery syndicates available. These syndicates pool money together to increase your chances of winning. Many lottery syndicates win more than a fifth of the top jackpots in major lotteries in the US and abroad.
While the federal Wire Act has been interpreted by many states as prohibiting online lottery sales, the Department of Justice issued a clarification in 2011. It stated that the Wire Act does not prohibit the sale of lottery tickets online. In response, the states that had been barred from offering online lotteries responded by interpreting the Wire Act as prohibiting online lottery sales. That said, there are still some states that have not adopted online lottery sales, as a result of verification challenges. However, with new laws being proposed and passed, these states may be able to legalize online lotto.
In December 2020, the District of Columbia rushed out emergency rules for online lottery games. As a result, the state will be offering online games in January 2021. The district will offer Instant Games, as well as games from IWG and NeoPollard. It is also working with the United States Postal Service to issue official entries.
Other jurisdictions that have launched online lottery games include Maryland, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. The District of Columbia has also partnered with IWG to offer a variety of games. These include Prospector’s Jackpots and Doublin’ Doubloons. Similarly, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania have partnered with IGT to offer games.