An online lottery is a form of gambling that lets you wager on a game of chance without actually leaving home. You purchase a ticket, select a few numbers, and wait for the results to be announced. Then you win if the numbers that you selected match the ones drawn. In the case of instant games, you can even wager and play on the go.

An online lottery is a relatively new phenomenon. Only seven states in the US currently offer legal lottery sales on the Internet. However, several more are looking to get on board.

The first state to launch an online lottery was Illinois in March 2012. The Illinois Lottery website allows users to register and purchase lottery tickets. The site also gives access to nearly 100 instant-win games. Some of these include Keno, Mega Millions, and Powerball. You can even play these on your smartphone. The top prize for a single version of Keno is over $100,000.

Illinois has a limited number of online lotteries, though. Its website offers Powerball, Pick 4, and Lucky Day Lotto. Customers must first buy an account, deposit $10 via a credit card, and confirm their purchase. If they win, they receive a check.

The Powerball is the biggest lottery in the US. Players can win from $1 to $20 in prizes, and the jackpot can reach over $40 million. The draw takes place in Washington, D.C. You must choose five numbers from a 69-number pool. In the US Virgin Islands, you can also participate in the game.

The Take 5 is another game that has become popular among lottery players. It costs just a dollar to play, and you can win a prize if you match three or more numbers. You can also try for the big jackpot by choosing from a pool of five numbers from 1-39.

Other online lottery games include Fantasy 5 and the Powerball. Some sites also offer syndicates, in which multiple players buy tickets and share the profits. These can give you 300 times the chance of winning than playing on your own. You’ll need to be over 18 years of age to play online. You’ll need to have good Wi-Fi. Some sites also allow you to set limits on how much you spend.

Most lottery websites require you to register and provide a user name and password. You’ll also need to enter contact information, and the website will then send scans of your ticket to your email. Using a number shield, you can even get a cash prize if you match one or more of the numbers on your ticket.

Many online lotteries now offer an Instant Game feature. This is a casino-like game that allows you to bet and play on the go. This has become increasingly popular because it is easy to do from a tablet or desktop. Some sites even offer deposit match bonuses. Generally, the best sites are licensed and fully regulated, offering the same odds as their official lottery counterparts.