Lotteries are one of the oldest forms of legal gambling in the United States. Its roots can be traced back to the early 1700s, when people started playing games of chance for the chance of winning prizes.
Today, lotteries operate in 45 US states. In addition, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Alaska also run state-wide lottery systems. And while the number of lottery companies continues to grow, many states are still unable to offer online lottery tickets.
The state of Pennsylvania has passed a bill that allows for the sale of lottery tickets over the Internet. In October 2017, the state legislature updated its gambling laws, allowing for the sale of electronic lottery tickets.
Several more states are considering the possibility of legalizing online lotteries. While the lottery industry is small compared to sports betting, it could benefit from an Internet-based system.
Online lotteries are currently available in seven states. North Carolina, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin all offer online lottery ticket sales.
The state-run lotteries in each of these states offer a variety of draw games. Some of these games include Powerball, Mega Millions, and Cash4Life.
There are also instant win games available. These games are similar to scratch-off tickets, but the jackpots are won by a player wagering on the outcome of a drawing.
Most websites are able to locate players based on their geographic locations. Depending on the game, the stakes can range from $0.10 to $20.