Buying lottery tickets online is safe and convenient. But before you make your first purchase, it’s important to know the legalities of the process. The law governing lottery purchases is different in every state. You must be at least 18 years old and you must be a resident of the state in which you play.
The Department of Justice clarified its position on the Wire Act, which previously regulated online sports betting, in 2011. The clarification opened the door for states to offer lottery tickets online. This came as a result of requests from New York and Illinois. It also opened the door for more states to authorize online lottery ticket sales.
In addition to online lottery sales, a growing number of states have authorized courier services to deliver lottery tickets. The most popular courier service is Jackpocket. However, these companies only operate in states that permit online lottery sales.
When you purchase a lottery ticket online, you must first register your account. Next, you must deposit the funds you intend to use to purchase the ticket. Then, you must select the lottery game you want to play.
You can buy tickets for some lotteries online for as little as $0.05. Other lotteries offer games that cost as little as $20. Some online games also allow you to purchase subscriptions, which allow you to buy tickets for every drawing. The cost of these subscriptions varies depending on the number of drawings.