If you are hoping to play the lottery online in Washington DC, you are in luck. The nation’s capital provides several options for you.
You can play popular draw games such as Powerball, Mega Millions, and Race2Riches via the official DC Lottery site or the app. Players will also find more than 90 e-Instant games, including DC Multiplier Wilds and Lucky DC Keno.
The District of Columbia permits online lottery courier services too. Jackpocket is the only app available in Washington DC right now, but more could launch in the future.
This guide explains which lottery games you can play online in Washington DC and which games are only available in-person at lottery retailers. We will also discuss how to claim your winnings and find the best bonuses at your disposal.
Options for purchasing lottery tickets online in Washington DC
There are three options for anyone interested in buying lottery tickets online in Washington DC:
- Visit DCiLottery.com and sign up for an account.
- Download the official DC Lottery app via the App Store or Google Play.
- Register with Jackpocket, which offers online lottery courier services in DC.
We will cover both the government-run lottery and Jackpocket in more depth below.
DC iLottery
One way to play the lottery online in Washington DC is to play through the district’s ilottery platform. Here are the important details you need to know about doing so.
How to sign up for an account
It is quick and easy to create an online lottery account in Washington DC. Just follow these steps:
Visit DCiLottery.com and hit the red “LOGIN” button at the top right of the homepage.
Select “REGISTER” to open the sign-up form.
Choose your title and provide your full name, gender, ethnicity, date of birth, last four SSN digits, and phone number.
Enter your home address and progress to the next step.
Provide your email address. Select a username and password.
Agree to the terms and conditions, and then submit the form.
You should be approved immediately if you entered your details correctly. You can then make an initial deposit, claim your welcome bonus, and begin playing online lottery games.
However, you will need to verify your account before making a withdrawal. You will be given 30 days to complete the verification process. Just upload a copy of official ID, such as a driver’s license, passport, or state-issued non-driver identification, along with a copy of a bank statement from the list six months that clearly displays your current address.
Rules and regulations
The Office of Lottery and Gaming regulates online lottery games in the District of Columbia. These are some of the key rules to keep in mind:
- You must be 18 or older to play online lottery games in Washington DC.
- Players must also be physically located within the District of Columbia’s boundaries to buy lottery tickets or play e-Instants. You do not need to be a resident of Washington DC to play online lottery games in the District. You just need to be physically located there.
- If you are playing on your phone, just switch on your location services. When using a computer, you will need to install a geolocation plugin to verify your location.
- You can log into your account, make deposits, and request withdrawals from outside of the District.
- There are certain areas of the District in which gambling is prohibited, including online lottery games. They include federal enclaves such as the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.
Deposits and withdrawals
You will need to make a deposit before playing online lottery games in Washington DC. The DC Lottery app and website offer several secure deposit options:
- Credit card
- Debit card
- PayPal
- Skrill
- ACH/e-check via VIP Preferred
The minimum deposit is $10, and the maximum is $2,000 per day, $6,000 per week, and $15,000 per month. You can impose lower deposit limits on your own account for responsible gambling purposes if you like.
You cannot withdraw deposited funds. However, you can withdraw any winnings that you earn. All prizes of less than $10,000 will be automatically deposited into your DC iLottery account. Withdrawals are available via PayPal, Skrill, or ACH/e-check. The maximum withdrawal limit is $4,999.99, so larger payouts will need to be split into multiple transactions.
Prizes of $10,000 and up must be claimed in-person at the Lottery Prize Center, which is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You will need to make an appointment by calling 202-645-8000. Make sure you bring a valid state-issued driver’s license, valid state-issued non-driver identification, or a United States Passport.
Fees
You will not pay any fees if you play iLottery games at the DC Lottery site or the app. There are no registration fees, deposit fees, or withdrawal fees, and the ticket prices are the same as those at licensed lottery retailers in the District.
Promotions and bonuses
You can claim a 100% first deposit bonus worth up to $275 after signing up with the DC Lottery site or the app.
- Create a new account and make an initial deposit of $10 or more to qualify.
- The DC Lottery will match your deposit dollar-for-dollar with bonus credits. For example, if you deposit $275, you will get another $275 in bonus credits and be left with an account balance of $550.
- You can use the bonus funds to play any online lottery games, and any winnings you earn will be paid in withdrawable cash. (In other words, you cannot withdraw the bonus credits directly; you must use them to play.)
There are various ongoing promotions for existing customers too. They are typically “Play & Get” bonuses. For example, here are a few we have seen:
- Play $15 on a new e-Instant and get $5 in bonus credits.
- Play $50 on any e-Instant games on a particular day to unlock $25 in bonus credits.
Jackpocket
Jackpocket is a private company, not associated with the government. However, the online lottery courier has an agreement with the Office of Lottery and Gaming in Washington DC. Thus, all the same rules and regulations that we mentioned above apply here as well.
If you purchase a lottery ticket through the Jackpocket app, the company sends someone to a retail location to buy a ticket for you. A copy of the ticket will be uploaded in your account, and the physical ticket will be stored in a secure facility. Modest wins (up to $599) will be credited to your account, and Jackpocket will send you the ticket if you need to claim a larger prize.
Creating and funding your account
Creating a Jackpocket account is pretty straightforward. You head to the Jackpocket site to get the app. Then, verify your phone number and fill in the required information. Finally, you need to scan an ID to prove that you are at least 18.
In terms of banking methods, you can use MasterCard, Visa, Discover, Play+, bank transfers, ACH e-Checks, PayPal, and Apple Pay.
Fees
Jackpocket does charge a deposit fee to cover the cost of couriers (and to earn a margin). So, when you make a deposit, some of your deposit will go to Jackpocket and some will go into your account. The fee is up to 10% per deposit. However, there are no monthly fees or withdrawal fees at Jackpocket.
As a general rule, it is more cost-effective to use the official DC Lottery app or the website, but Jackpocket offers a slightly larger range of draw games, as we discuss below.
Promos and bonuses
Jackpocket offers a more modest welcome bonus than the official iLottery in Washington DC. New customers will get $2 off their first purchase, which essentially amounts to a free ticket. Just use the promo code PLAYBONUS when you sign up.
We have not seen bonuses for existing customers at Jackpocket, but perhaps that will change in the future.
Online lottery games available in Washington DC
You can play a wide range of lottery games online in Washington DC. They fall into three main categories:
- Multi-state draw games
- Washington DC-only draw games
- e-Instants
The DC Lottery is a charter member of the Multi-State Lottery Association. That means you can play popular games like Powerball in the District. These games are available to play online at both the DC iLottery platform and on Jackpocket in Washington DC:
Powerball: Powerball is the most well-known multi-state draw game in the US. When you buy your Powerball ticket online, there is a “Quick Pick” option, which will randomly assign you numbers, or you can choose your own numbers. Tickets cost $2, and the jackpot can exceed $1 billion.
Mega Millions: This is another popular multi-state draw game, which covers 45 states, plus the District of Columbia. The format is similar to Powerball, as tickets cost $2 and you need to match six numbers to win the jackpot, which can reach huge sums.
Lucky for Life: This game began in Connecticut back in 2009, but it now covers 22 states and the District of Columbia. Tickets cost $2 per game, and the top prize is $1,000 per day for life.
Washington DC-only draw games
There are also lottery draw games covering the District of Columbia only. These are the local draw games that you can play online in Washington DC:
- DC5: This five-digit game is drawn twice daily. The format is similar to Pick 5 in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Prizes range from $25 to $50,000. Betting options include a straight, box, front pair, back pair, front three, back three, front four, or back four.
- DC4: A four-digit draw game, which is held three times per day. It follows a similar format to DC5, but prizes range from $100 to $5,000.
- DC3: You can also play DC3 three times per day. Betting options on this three-digit draw game include a straight, box, straight/box, front pair, back pair, or combo. Prizes range from $25 to $500.
- DC2: This simple two-digit game is drawn twice daily, with prizes of $2.50 to $50. The DC Lottery app and website do not sell DC2 tickets, but you can use Jackpocket to purchase them.
- Race2Riches: A lottery game rendered in the form of a virtual horse race, which takes place every four minutes, seven days per week. Twelve horses take part, and you have the same betting options that you would find on a regular horse race: win, show, quinella, exacta, trifecta, and superfecta, plus box and wheel options.
If you are interested in playing online lottery draw games in Washington DC, here are the draw days and times:
| Draw Game | Draw Days | Draw Time |
|---|---|---|
| Powerball | Monday, Wednesday, Saturday | 10:59 p.m. |
| Mega Millions | Tuesday, Friday | 11 p.m. |
| Lucky for Life | Daily | 10:38 p.m. |
| DC 2, DC 5 | Daily | 1:50 p.m. and 7:50 p.m. |
| DC3, DC 4 | Daily | 1:50 p.m., 7:50 p.m., 11:30 p.m. |
| Race2Riches | Daily | Every four minutes |
e-Instants
These instant win games are similar to the scratchers that you can buy at convenience stores and gas stations in Washington DC. Instead of scratching off a latex coating, you just press a button to reveal the results.
There are more than 90 e-Instants on the DC Lottery app and the website. You cannot play these games at Jackpocket.
The e-Instants are divided into four categories: regular e-Instants, keno, seasonal games, and progressive jackpot games. Betting limits range from $0.10 to $100 per play. Some have fixed jackpots of up to $500,000, and others offer progressive jackpots, which can go even higher.
Some of the most popular e-Instants in Washington DC include Coins of the Titans, Dragon’s Palace of Fortunes, and Wild Cat Multiplier. There are games specifically designed for players in the District too, such as DC Multiplier Wilds, Lucky DC Keno, DC Cash Club, and DC Expander.
Lottery games that cannot be played online in Washington DC
Some DC Lottery games cannot be played online. They are only available to play in-person at licensed lottery retailers, such as gas stations and convenience stores. Here are the games you that you cannot play online:
- The Lucky One
- DC Fast Play
- DC TAP-N-PLAY
- DC Scratchers
- DC Keno
Is it safe to play the lottery online in Washington DC?
Yes, it is perfectly safe to play the lottery online in Washington DC. The DC iLottery site uses the latest encryption tools to protect sensitive information and data that must remain secure to meet legal requirements.
Jackpocket also uses advanced security measures, including encryption and robust firewalls, to safeguard your data and prevent unauthorized access. Just make sure you only play at the DC Lottery app, DCiLottery.com, or Jackpocket, as they are the only legal, regulated options in the District of Columbia.
What do Washington DC’s lottery proceeds support?
The DC Lottery proceeds are transferred to the District’s General Fund on an annual basis. The General Fund supports essential services, including education, recreation and parks, public safety, housing, and senior and child services.
More than 50% of the money spent on lottery tickets and instant win games is returned to players in the form of prizes. The rest is sent to the General Fund after paying retailer commissions, contractors’ fees, operations, and advertising.
The latest figures from the DC Lottery show this breakdown:
returned to players in prizes
transferred to the General Fund
in agent commissions
spent on contractors’ fees
spent on advertising
Responsible gambling resources available for Washington DC Residents
It’s always important to practice responsible gaming while playing the online lottery. Besides the national resources available, Washington DC offers a few resources just for residents of the district.
You can head to the “My Account” page of the DC iLottery site or the app to impose daily, weekly, or monthly deposit limits on your own account. Players can also set bet limits, which prevent you from being able to bet more than a specified amount each day, week, or month.
The Office of Lottery and Gaming also runs a self-exclusion program. You can voluntarily request to be excluded from all legalized gambling within the District of Columbia for a pre-determined length of time. That includes online lottery games and sports wagering. Just select the “Self-Exclude” option on the “My Account” page to proceed.
If you need support with a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER for confidential help and advice on a 24/7 basis.
A brief history of iLottery in Washington DC
The DC Lottery was established in August 1982. Since then, the lottery has awarded more than $4.6 billion in prizes and transferred more than $2.3 billion to the District’s General Fund.
In December 2020, the DC Lottery unveiled DC iLottery, a digital platform for playing online lottery games. The platform initially offered e-Instants and tickets for multi-state draw games, including Powerball and Mega Millions.
The DC Lottery said that the full portfolio of traditional draw games and monitor games would be available by the end of 2021. That includes DC daily number games, DC Keno, Race2Riches, and The Lucky One.
Games like DC 5 and Race2Riches were added, but the platform does not currently offer DC Keno or The Lucky One. However, new e-Instants have been added on a regular basis in the ensuing years, and there are now more than 90 titles available.
Latest news about the online lottery in Washington DC
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