Whether you’re planning to play the lottery in your local area or play the lottery online, there are some things you need to know. First, online lotteries are not government-run. Instead, private businesses serve as the middlemen for the games. While you can still purchase entries in official government lotteries, you’ll have a broader selection of games to choose from. If you’re looking for an even better experience, consider buying your lottery tickets online.
Lottery sales aren’t as widespread as they are in brick-and-mortar retailers, but they are gaining ground. In the United States, online lottery websites provide the convenience of a brick-and-mortar store, without the high-cost of a brick-and-mortar location. New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, Virginia, and Kentucky have passed legislation governing lottery ticket sales online. Even more states are considering regulating the lottery market.
There are also several European countries that allow lottery sales online. Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Finland, and Ukraine all offer lottery services. Although the laws regarding lottery purchases online vary by country, most popular European lotteries can be purchased on government-run websites. However, some states, like New Mexico, have yet to pass legislation allowing for online lottery sales. So, while New Mexico may not have an online lottery, it has a very popular lottery and many retailers sell lottery tickets in the state.
While many online lottery services are based on trusted third-party websites, some of them may use geolocation software to identify users. This way, the lottery provider will be able to ensure that the person using the lottery site is who they claim to be. When you play online, you can also check if the lottery you’re playing is available in your state. It’s not uncommon for a lucky winner to come from a state that does not offer online ticket sales.