State lotteries online

State lotteries online: the short answer

A state lottery can sell tickets online only if its own state law allows it, so availability is patchy. Where it's offered, you buy through an account on the lottery's official site or app, prove your age and identity, and play from inside the state's borders.

Three states' official lottery sites confirm internet sales. Georgia's Players Club FAQ says online play needs an upgraded account and that you must be in Georgia. New Hampshire's lottery sells e-Instants and draw tickets online and through an app, and Virginia sells Powerball, Mega Millions and other draw games online through a My Game Room account.

Other sources report online sales in Illinois, Kentucky and Michigan, and Massachusetts was preparing a launch. For most states, our sources don't confirm either way, so check your lottery's official site. This guide is part of our casino and gambling guides.

Which states sell lottery tickets online?

Missing states aren't necessarily offline; our sources simply didn't confirm their status. New York's Gaming Commission, for example, lists “certain lottery purchases” among permitted online wagering without saying which. State hubs such as Georgia, Virginia and Michigan cover each state's wider gambling law.

When the state lottery runs online casinos or sports betting

In a few states, the lottery isn't just selling tickets; it's the agency behind legal online gambling. Delaware's lottery runs the state's online casino through one platform, BetRivers, for Delaware Park, Bally's Dover and Harrington, under the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012.

Rhode Island's online casino launched on March 5, 2024 as a state-run monopoly with Bally's as the single operator, according to a third-party report, and the Rhode Island Lottery is the regulator. West Virginia's Lottery Commission regulates online casinos under the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act, which allows up to five licenses.

Two more lotteries run sports betting. The New Hampshire Lottery Commission runs both the lottery and sports wagering, with an 18+ sportsbook through DraftKings, and the Oregon Lottery offers sports betting through DraftKings. See our list of states with legal online casinos for the full set of seven.

Federal law and state lotteries online: the Wire Act fight

Online lottery sales sat in a federal gray area for years because of the Wire Act, the 1961 law on transmitting bets across state lines. Its reach went back and forth at the Department of Justice before a federal appeals court settled the lottery question for the parties in the case.

The First Circuit's decision (opens in a new tab) is why lotteries describe online sales as lawful today. Our sources don't record a Supreme Court review. Separately, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act excludes intrastate wagers authorized by state law when age and location are verified, which is why lottery apps check where you are; see our UIGEA explainer.

How to buy state lottery tickets online, step by step

1. Go to your state lottery's official site or app; type the address yourself rather than following ads.
2. Create an account with your legal name, date of birth and address. Georgia, for example, requires an upgraded Players Club account.
3. Complete identity and age checks, and allow location services so the system can confirm you're in the state.
4. Set deposit and spending limits in the account before you fund it.
5. Add funds with a method the lottery accepts, then choose your game and buy.
6. Check results in the account; prize claims above certain amounts may need extra paperwork.

Virginia's responsible play page (opens in a new tab) describes online play through a My Game Room account, and the Georgia Lottery FAQ (opens in a new tab) explains the in-state requirement. Rules differ between lotteries, so follow your own state's instructions.

Lottery age limits vs casino age limits

Lottery ages are frequently lower than casino ages. State sources give 18 for lottery play in Georgia, New Hampshire, Virginia, California, Connecticut and Missouri, while most state casino and sports betting ages are 21.

Being old enough to buy a lottery ticket doesn't make you old enough for a casino, online or off. Our gambling age by state table compares every form.

Taxes on online lottery prizes

Lottery prizes are taxable federal income. For payments made in 2026, the IRS W-2G instructions (opens in a new tab) say lottery, sweepstakes and pool winnings are reported when they reach the $2,000 threshold and are at least 300 times the wager. Regular withholding of 24% applies when winnings minus the wager exceed $5,000, and backup withholding of 24% applies if you don't give a correct taxpayer ID.

1. You win $10,000 on a $2 online ticket in 2026.
2. The prize is at least $2,000 and more than 300 × $2 = $600, so it's reported on a W-2G.
3. Winnings minus the wager are $9,998, which is over $5,000, so 24% regular withholding applies: $9,998 × 24% = $2,399.52.
4. You still report the full prize on your return; the withholding is a credit toward the tax you owe.

From tax year 2026, the 2025 federal tax law reportedly limits the gambling loss deduction to 90% of losses, and only up to your winnings, so check IRS guidance. Our W-2G form page has more.

Lottery-style games at online casinos: keno and scratch cards

Online casinos sell games that look like lottery products, but they aren't run by a state and none of the proceeds go to state programs. Keno is the closest match: you pick numbers and a draw decides the payout. RealTime Gaming's online keno is described as lottery-style, with a maximum win of 250x per one listing and $50,000 per another, both third-party.

Among our partners, SlotoCash lists keno on its site and allows welcome bonus play on keno and scratch cards. Miami Club lists keno and scratch card categories and counts both at 100% toward bonus wagering. Third-party reviews report keno at Slot Madness.

Instant, on-demand draws are the key cost difference: you can play far more rounds an hour than with a scheduled lottery, so a small edge adds up faster. Learn the game first with our guide on how to play keno.

Playing the lottery online responsibly

Online lottery accounts make it easy to play every day, so use the tools they offer. The Illinois Lottery offers a self-exclusion option for online ticket purchases, Virginia runs a voluntary exclusion program, and New Hampshire's play responsibly page (opens in a new tab) lists its helpline and age rules.

For free, confidential support at any hour, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), or chat through NCPG's help and treatment page (opens in a new tab). Our guide to deposit limits works for lottery accounts too.

Keno and scratch card offers via our links

No partner of ours sells state lottery tickets. The casinos below offer keno or scratch cards, which are casino games, not lottery products, and they're offshore sites not licensed by any US state. Check your state's law before signing up. Offers are for new players, 21+ (18+ where allowed), and terms apply.

SlotoCash Casino: $6,000 Welcome Bonus + 60 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). The casino's site advertises its own $7,777 + 300 spins package over five deposits at 25x deposit plus bonus, with a $20 minimum per bonus and no max cashout, and lists keno and scratch cards as eligible games.

Miami Club Casino: $4,000 Bonus + 285 Bonus Games, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Its published package is up to $800 over eight deposits at 20x deposit plus bonus, with keno and scratch cards counting 100%. It uses WGS (Wager Gaming) software, not RTG. Section 1.6 of its Terms of Use (v2.1, September 28, 2026) names the United States as a prohibited jurisdiction, while the site owner's affiliate program confirms US players are accepted, so confirm eligibility at sign-up.

Slot Madness Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Third-party reviews list a 275% match up to $2,750 (code MAD275) at 30x bonus plus deposit on slots with a $30 minimum and no max cashout; one review says slots and keno qualify, and another calls the match unlimited.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board has named Miami Club and Slot Madness (August 14, 2025) and SlotoCash (October 8, 2026) as illegal offshore operators in cease-and-desist letters. We earn a commission from these links, and the order is commercial.

21+ (18+ where allowed). Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: responsible gambling tools and free help. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).