Online lottery is a form of gambling in which players can use a computer to choose numbers to win a jackpot. There are a number of different types of online lottery games, including instant win and scratch-offs. Most of these games operate in a similar way, with players choosing several numbers from a set of options to win the jackpot. Online lottery is legal in many states, and the prizes can be very high. The best online lottery sites offer secure transactions and a variety of payment methods.

Most state lotteries now offer online lottery games, and many of these are available on mobile devices. These games are easy to use and can be played from any location with an internet connection. Some of these sites even let players set daily or weekly spending limits to help them avoid over-spending. However, it’s still up to the player to keep track of their winnings and spending, so it is important to play responsibly.

The US online lottery industry began with Illinois’s launch of its official app in 2012. Since then, the industry has expanded rapidly, and players can now purchase tickets from a large number of sites. Some of these are operated by the state’s official lottery agency, while others are third-party apps such as Jackpocket. Despite the differences between these services, both are legal and safe to use, and most of them use geolocation to ensure that players are in the correct jurisdiction for lottery ticket purchases.

In addition to selling tickets, the best online lottery sites also publish results and past draw histories for each game. These statistics can be useful for players who want to see if they’ve won before and how their odds of winning are changing over time. They can also help players make informed betting decisions by displaying the average prize per ticket for each game.

While the best online lottery sites vary by state, they generally feature a wide range of games and promotions. They should also be licensed and regulated, and they should accept the most common payment methods. In addition to offering local and national lottery games, they should also offer other forms of online gambling such as scratchcards, keno, raffles, and discount lottery tickets. Lastly, they should support multiple currencies and languages. These are important features, especially for players from countries that don’t have their own lotteries.