The United States is home to 45 different state lotteries, including Washington DC, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. These state lotteries offer instant-win and drawing games, and proceeds from ticket sales go to schools and other nonprofit organizations. The biggest national lottery, MegaMillions, offers grand prizes of up to $1 billion. There are also 11 state-based online lotteries.
The online lottery is relatively new. The Pennsylvania iLottery launched in 2018 and has experienced strong growth in sales, though some critics claim the state is cannibalizing revenue. Regardless of whether or not iLotteries will harm traditional lottery sales, the numbers are very encouraging. While there are valid concerns about the possibility of problem gambling, cannibalization, and state budgets, these games will not eliminate the lottery as we know it.
Before playing online, players must register an account and deposit funds. From there, players can choose a lottery game and follow instructions on the screen. Many states are considering launching online lottery games and selling tickets online. It is still not widespread, but it is expected to catch on soon. Online lottery sites use geolocation technology to ensure that players cannot purchase tickets from outside their state.
Online lottery sales are legal in Kentucky as of April 2016. The lottery offers draw and instant-play games. The state also launched an app to view lotto tickets on mobile devices. The lottery in Kentucky also added keno drawings to the virtual world in March 2018.
