Online lottery purchases are available across the US. More than a dozen US markets (13 states plus Washington DC) offer government-run online lotteries. States that don’t have formal online lottery sites often offer courier services that enable players to get tickets via a third-party app.
If you live in the US (or in some cases, if you are visiting), what online lottery options are available in your area? On this page, we will break down which states have online lottery play and how you can get involved.
US states with government-run online lottery sites
Currently, 13 states and Washington DC offer online lottery games in some format through the government. Not all of these markets are the same; each has its own limits and game types. Three additional states are expected to launch online lotteries soon, and we’ll discuss those in more detail below.
On top of the states with online lottery sites, there are 13 markets (12 states, plus Puerto Rico) that offer lottery courier services. Such services let players buy tickets online and then send a runner to buy them at a physical location.
Below is a map showing the current status of online lottery offerings across the US.
No online options
Online draw games
Lottery couriers available
Legal, but not yet live
Online instant games and draw games
Draw games (with subscription)
Instant games
List of states that offer online lottery sites
Here are the 13 markets in the United States that offer some sort of formal online lottery. We’ve also listed the types of games available for purchase online in each market.
| State/Market | Draw games? | Instant Games? | Keno? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Connecticut | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Georgia | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Illinois | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Kentucky | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Maryland | ✅(subscription only) | ❌ | ❌ |
| Michigan | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| New Hampshire | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| New York | ✅ (subscription only) | ❌ | ❌ |
| North Carolina | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| North Dakota | ✅(subscription only) | ❌ | ❌ |
| Pennsylvania | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Rhode Island | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Virginia | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Washington, DC | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
READ MORE: Our guide to online lottery games
Do I need an online lottery subscription?
Whether you need a lottery subscription depends on which state you are playing from. Three states — North Dakota, New York, and Maryland — have online lottery games available via subscription only.
In other states with online lotteries, you don’t need a subscription, per se. You always need to create an account and confirm your age before you are able to play online. In most states, this is all that’s required, and you don’t have to pay anything to play except for the cost of the games themselves.
That said, some states offer the option to auto-reload or purchase tickets for select games on a rolling basis. Our take is simple: we like it when subscriptions are an option, but we don’t like it when they are the only option. Still, something is better than nothing.
List of states that allow lottery courier sites
Lottery courier sites offer an online option for purchases in various states. These sites are legal because the app company functions as a sort of middleman.
Players purchase tickets online, and then a runner physically buys the ticket at a participating retail location.
These services (where available) essentially let you play lottery games online in the absence of a state-sanctioned online platform.
Here are the US markets where these third-party courier apps are legal and available.
| State | Jackpocket | Jackpot.com | theLotter | Mido Lotto | Lotto.com |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Arkansas | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| California | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Colorado | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Connecticut | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Delaware | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Idaho | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Maine | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Massachusetts | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Minnesota | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Montana | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Nebraska | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| New Hampshire | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| New Jersey | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| New Mexico | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| New York | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Ohio | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Oregon | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Puerto Rico | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Texas | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Washington DC | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| West Virginia | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
These states are launching online lotteries soon
Three states are on the cusp of launching an online lottery.
The NJ Lottery Commission created an online lottery structure for New Jersey with hopes of selling its first digital tickets in late 2024 (draw games only). However, last winter, state legislators introduced two bills to prevent the NJ online lottery launch. Therefore, all we know for certain right now is that the New Jersey online lottery will not launch in 2024 after all.
In the fall of 2023, the West Virginia Lottery formed a partnership with NeoPollard Interactive to launch an iLottery. The state has yet to go live, but the plan is to launch on October 27, 2024. Both draw games and e-instants will be available through the West Virginia online lottery, and the state plans to include a loyalty program.
In a bit of a surprising move, Massachusetts legislature approved adding ilottery to their FY 2025, and Governor Healey signed it into law. The Massachusetts online lottery is expected to be up and running in late 2025, offering draw games only at first. The online lottery will be limited to players age 21+, even though retail sales will still be 18+.
Will other states launch or expand online lottery options?
Indeed, some states are toying with the idea of launching or expanding online lottery platforms. Whether these efforts come to fruition remains to be seen, but these markets have expressed interest in some form or another.
Ohio
Ohioans could eventually play lottery games online. In early 2024, the state’s lottery began making a case to allow online play. With the advent of sports betting, the state lottery wants to offer online sales to stay competitive and give customers easier access to its games.
New York
Efforts to legalize online lottery in New York faltered in 2024. However, State Senator Joseph Addabbo—a champion of online gambling in the Empire State—is keeping his sights on 2025. Addabbo’s most recent effort is SB8185, which would authorize online lottery games and online casinos in New York.
Maryland
Maryland’s current subscription-only model barely qualifies as online lottery play. The state legislature seems interested in expanding online lottery options, but a bill in the current legislative session passed a key deadline without going to a vote, so it’s no longer active in this session.
Responsible gaming resources
State lotteries put forth good-faith efforts to promote responsible play. Enjoying the lottery is a form of gambling, and there are plenty of resources offered to players who may have a problem.
Players can learn more at our responsible gaming overview page. Also, each of the pages on PlayiLottery devoted to a state or to Washington, D.C., lays out some of the responsbile gambling resources in that region.
FAQ about online lottery sites
If your state has a lottery courier site, then yes. You can use sites like Jackpocket, theLotter, or Jackpot.com to buy tickets where available. Otherwise, you must visit a retailer to play.
No, but they are similar. A lottery site is usually offered by the state lottery itself, letting you buy tickets or games directly from the organization. Lottery couriers will let you purchase a ticket online, then send a runner to buy your ticket at a retailer physically. Lottery couriers are great options for players in states without a formalized online lottery, but they do charge a small fee for the service.
Yes, as long as the site is approved by a formal lottery in the US. There are 13 states (plus Washington DC) whose lotteries offer some sort of online platform and many more who offer online lottery courier services (see our map above). Those platforms face oversight and regulation, so any of those options would be safe.
Any sites advertising lottery games that aren’t associated with a formal lottery are likely unregulated, offshore sites that don’t face oversight and regulation. We would not recommend using these sites.
Generally, no. Yes, most sites let players play lottery games for free in demo mode, but you can’t win any money that way. If you’re interested in playing for a chance to win money, you have to spend money to buy the lottery ticket or game—just like you would at a licensed retailer. Some online lotteries do, however, have sweepstakes promotions that involve a chance at free prizes.
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