The US is home to a variety of lottery games and draws. Some are state-specific while others have multi-state offerings like Mega Millions and Powerball. Some also feature instant win games and scratch tickets, too.

Lottery is a popular form of gambling for US citizens, with tens of millions playing online and offline every week. However, there are some rules that you must follow if you want to play the lottery online.

A lot of websites offer lottery-style games, allowing you to place bets on the results of draw games from around the world. These sites are licensed and regulated by gaming commissions in different countries. The best sites should be easy to use, have good customer service, and give you a clear indication of their license status.

Some online lottery websites are run by lottery agents, whose job is to buy tickets on your behalf and upload them to a secure database. These agents are often referred to as “lottery concierge services” or “lottery ticket couriers.”

Many online lottery sites offer a wide variety of games, including daily lotteries, raffles, and other special events. Some even offer online lottery subscriptions for those who like to play regularly.

The top lottery websites offer both desktop and mobile platforms, letting you play on your computer or smartphone wherever you are in the country. These sites have been designed for ease of use and offer a variety of payment methods, including ACH/eCheck, PayPal, debit cards, and credit cards.

You can also deposit and withdraw cash through legal lottery sites using your prepaid card or bank account. You should also check whether the site accepts your preferred currency.

Online lottery is a growing industry in the United States, and a turning point came in 2011. The Wire Act was challenged by operators in New York and Illinois, and a historic ruling made them legal. This led to an explosion in online lottery sales in the US, with many new state-based and multi-state lotteries launched.

Today, lottery operators in over 45 states and the District of Columbia offer online lottery ticket sales to players. These sites include both traditional drawing-style games and instant win games with large jackpots.

Some of these lotteries have been around for years, while others are relatively new. One of the latest states to offer online lottery purchases is North Carolina, which began offering lottery tickets in 2005.

In addition to a few in-house draw games, the NC Lottery offers Powerball and Mega Millions. The lottery’s proceeds go to public employee pension systems and education.

The NC Lottery’s website is easy to navigate and features quick-number selection options, including custom number and box pick. You can also play multiple winning numbers with a single draw and use an online tool to check your odds of winning.

Several online lottery sites allow players to win jackpots worth hundreds of millions of dollars, but you need to be careful that you’re playing with an official site and not an illegally-licensed agent. Most states do have their own laws regarding lotteries and online lottery, so you should always make sure you’re in compliance with them before playing.