US lottery draw games are more accessible than ever, as it’s now possible to play online. You can buy draw game tickets from your computer or mobile device in around 30 states.
Our guide will explain how to buy tickets for your favorite draw games online and the jackpot prizes on offer to you. We’ve broken this down based on differing state laws, so you’ll know exactly what to do next time you’re ready to pick your numbers.
What are draw games?
Draw games are some of the most popular and well-known lottery games in the US. Indeed, when many people think of the lottery, the first thought that pops into their head is of the jackpot prizes from draw games.
Draw games get their name because the game operator draws numbers to determine a winner. If you match all numbers, you win the jackpot. If you match just some of the numbers, you usually win a smaller prize.
When you pick your numbers, you have two choices. You can hand-pick the numbers you’d like to appear on your ticket or request a random selection when you purchase
There are hundreds of draw games in the US, but popular choices include Powerball and Mega Millions. Those two games are available across most US states that have lotteries. Most states also have other multi-state draw games shared with only a few others. For example, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wyoming together have a game called 2by2.
Most jurisdictions also have draw games that are limited just to that specific region. For example, the Minnesota Lottery offers the Gopher 5, which is not available in any other state. Of course, the more jurisdictions that combine for a draw game, the bigger the jackpot. That’s another reason why Powerball and Mega Millions are so popular.
Until recently, lottery fans had to go to a gas station or some other retail location to buy their tickets. Now, players in most states can go online or open a mobile app to participate in draw games without leaving the comfort of home.
How to play lottery draw games online in the US
Basically, all jurisdictions fall into one of four categories when it comes to playing lottery draw games.
First, some players can play draw games through a government-run official online lottery platform. In Pennsylvania, for example, that would be PAiLottery.com. In Illinois, it’s IllinoisLottery.com. Other jurisdictions with legal government-run platforms include Kentucky, New Hampshire, the District of Columbia, and Virginia.
The second option is to buy draw tickets through a third-party lottery courier. When you make a purchase, the courier will send someone to buy your ticket(s) in person. You can view a scan of your ticket before the draw in your online account and receive a notification if you’re a winner.
Couriers like Lotto.com, Jackpocket, and Jackpot.com operate legally across several states, including Arkansas, Ohio, and New York.
CA is one of many states that have yet to allow online lottery purchases in any form. In those states, you will need to visit an approved land-based retailer, such as a gas station or convenience store, to buy draw tickets in one of these areas.
There are also a small number of states where draw games remain illegal in all forms. Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah have all refused to pass laws allowing lotteries to take place within their borders.
Do people win by playing online?
Lottery tickets purchased online are identical to those bought in person, so yes, people do win by playing online.
One of the best examples comes out of Illinois, where an online ticket holder matched all six numbers on the June 2024 Mega Millions draw. The ticket in question was bought online through the Illinois Lottery website and won $560 million.
In another case, a Kent County woman won over $264,000 playing the instant draw game Michigan Jackpot. The anonymous winner hit the jackpot in September 2024 through the Michigan Lottery App.
You can view all draw game winners and their retailer of choice through state lottery websites.
If you want to know what is available in your area, visit our guide to online lottery options in each state.
Most popular lottery draw games
Here are some of the most popular draw games you’ll likely find in your area.
Powerball
Powerball is the country’s most popular lottery draw. Enter for $2, choosing five numbers between 1 and 69 and one Powerball between 1 and 26. Win a prize by matching one of the game’s nine ways to win. Hit the jackpot by matching all six numbers in the draw.
Mega Millions
Mega Millions is America’s second-largest jackpot draw game. Play from $2, picking five white balls between 1 and 70 and one Mega Ball between 1 and 25. Match all six numbers in a draw to win the jackpot prize. There are eight other ways to win on a Mega Millions ticket.
Lucky for Life/Cash4Life
Win lottery prizes for life in these two multi-state drawings. Play for $2 for the chance to win $1,000 a day, every day, for the rest of your life. Choose to claim your prize as intended or cash out in one lump sum.
Pick 3/4/5
As the name suggests, pick three, four, or five numbers in these twice-daily draws. Play from $0.50, and add the FIREBALL for another chance to win.
Megabucks
The original Megabucks is open to players in Massachusetts, Oregon, and Wisconsin. A Tri-State Megabucks variation is operated by the Tri-State Lottery in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont. The Megabucks jackpot starts at $1 million. Match five numbers and the Megaball to win the top prize.
All or Nothing
This distinctive Texan draw game allows players to win the top prize by matching all 12 numbers or none at all. Play for $2, picking numbers from 1 to 24. All or Nothing has a fixed jackpot of $250,000.
When do the drawings occur?
Check the draw times of the most popular lottery games in the US here. The cut-off for most lottery ticket sales is an hour before the draw, but check the specific rules for your state.
| Lottery Game | Draw Times (ET) |
|---|---|
| Powerball | Every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. |
| Mega Millions | Every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. |
| Lucky For Life | Daily at 10:38 p.m. |
| Cash4Life | Daily at 9 p.m. |
| Pick 3/4/5 | Twice daily between 12 and 2 p.m., and 9 and 11 p.m. Time varies by state. |
| Megabucks | Every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 7:59 p.m. |
| All or Nothing | Monday to Saturday at 10 am, 12:27 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10:12 p.m. |
How much can you win at online lottery draw games?
Online lottery prizes vary based on the games you enter. Jackpots for large multi-state draws like Mega Millions or Powerball often start at $20 million but have the potential to grow into much larger figures. The largest Powerball jackpot was $2 billion, won by a Californian lottery player in 2022.
Prizes for single-state draws like Lotto are usually much smaller (yet still significant) sums. Jackpots can start anywhere from $100,000 to $1 million. Games like Lucky for Life reward daily or weekly sums that can reach $1,000 per day. You can choose to take your winnings as a lump sum if preferred.
It’s also important to remember that most lottery draw game prizes are built by ticket sales. The more tickets are sold and the more draws happen before a winner is crowned, the larger the jackpot. For this reason, jackpot prize amounts for Powerball and Mega Millions draws often surpass the $1 billion mark.
Keep in mind that your chances of winning the lottery are very small. For example, Powerball reports the odds of winning its smallest prize (just $4) as 1 in every 38.32. Try to reach the game’s largest jackpot prize, and your odds are a mere 1 in every 292.2 million.
You should also consider the tax implications of winning. Lottery prizes are considered wages that your state will tax accordingly.
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