Lottery Online is the process of purchasing tickets for state and multi-state lottery games via a website or mobile app. These sites usually offer ACH/eCheck, PayPal, debit and credit cards for depositing funds as well as a range of payment methods for withdrawing winnings. In addition, a number of these websites offer a variety of games to choose from. They can include scratch-type games, keno, instant win games, and other traditional drawing-style games.
While the $100 billion-a-year lottery business is still largely cash-based at bodegas, convenience stores and gas stations, online companies like Jackpot are working to transform the industry and make it more in line with the buying habits of today’s consumers. For instance, they’re developing a platform that will allow players to purchase tickets from anywhere in the US with the help of a smartphone or tablet device.
Many online lottery providers don’t actually buy and sell the tickets themselves – instead, they act as middlemen for official government-run lotteries like Mega Millions or EuroJackpot. In exchange for a fee, these services gain you entry into the official lottery by purchasing tickets for you ahead of time, then notifying you if you’re a winner and sending you a scan of your ticket.
Some states have their own online lottery platforms and offer a selection of their own games, while others partner with a single company to provide a broader menu of national and international games. In both cases, a portion of the proceeds from lottery sales goes towards state programs, charities and other community projects.