The online lottery is a popular form of gambling that allows players to purchase entries in lotteries from their computer or mobile device. Unlike traditional lotteries, which are government-run, online lotteries are run by private companies that act as middlemen. These sites sell official entries to international and national lotteries. They also pay out winnings to their customers. The popularity of these websites has led to a surge in the number of players, driving market growth.

The rules and regulations for lottery play vary by state. Some require you to sign up for an account and provide information including your identity, address, email address, phone number, bank account, and the country where you live. Others simply ask you to provide your ticket numbers and the type of bet you want to place. Regardless of the requirements, it is important to choose a lottery site that is legitimate and regulated by a gambling commission. This will protect you from scams and other potential problems.

There are many different types of online lottery games. These include instant games, scratch-offs, and draw-based games. Some of these games offer large jackpots, while others have smaller prizes. Some states have their own local state games, while others participate in multi-state lotteries such as Powerball and Mega Millions. Each of these has its own set of rules and prizes, so it is important to know which game you are playing before making a bet.

While the US has a long history with lotteries, the online lottery is still fairly new. In fact, the first state to legalize an online lottery was Illinois in 2012. Since then, six other states have followed suit: Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania. The District of Columbia has also legalized online lottery games, but it did so without passing a law, using provisions that it had already received for sports betting.

Most of the major online lottery websites have similar features, but there are some that stand out from the crowd. One of these is Lotto Agent, which has a clean, modern interface and a variety of lottery games. It also offers a free trial period to try the site before making a purchase. Another great option is eLottery, which allows users to play multiple lottery games with just one account. This site also offers a free trial period and accepts a wide range of payment methods. Just make sure to read the terms and conditions carefully before signing up.