When the first US colonies landed on the American continent, lotteries were one of the few legal ways for people to make a living. Lotteries are still in use today, operating in over 45 states and the Virgin Islands. The earliest recorded lottery dates back to the early 1700s. Today, tens of millions of Americans play their state’s lottery games every week.
In the US, the first state to implement a state-sponsored lottery was New Hampshire. The New Hampshire lottery was founded in 1964 and includes a wide range of draw games, including Mega Millions. Other games include Powerball and dozens of scratch-offs.
Another state with an extensive lineup of lottery games is Massachusetts. The state’s lotteries include eight draw games and three multi-state games. Besides the jackpots, they also pay a fair share of profits to the state’s education and public safety programs.
Online lotteries are growing in the US. Currently, eight states offer online lottery ticket sales. Several Northeastern states are considering expanding the scope of their offerings. If approved, the process will be quicker and more convenient. Some of the perks of playing online include convenience, promotions, and discounts. However, some states do not have their own official websites. For example, Maryland and Pennsylvania have not yet passed laws allowing players to purchase tickets online.
Despite the lack of a state-wide lottery website, several Northeastern states have taken steps to allow the sale of online lottery tickets. Rhode Island is currently pursuing an online lottery license and Massachusetts is in the early stages of legalizing the sale of online tickets.
Most of these states’ online lottery websites do more than just sell tickets. They offer a variety of tools and tips to help players make their best bets. They also enable players to scan tickets, check prize draws, and even play on mobile devices.
Although not as popular as some other forms of gambling, the online lottery is gaining in popularity. Eight states in the US have authorized the sale of online lottery tickets, and more are expected in the near future. Depending on the amount of drawings, the cost of a subscription varies. Typically, the costs range from $1 to $20. Those who win can expect to see prizes ranging from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars.
In the US, the biggest national lottery is MegaMillions. In addition to the prize money, the grand prize has a value of over one billion dollars. Ticket sales close up to two hours before a drawing. A single winner from Michigan won the lion’s share of the $560 million jackpot in the November 2014 drawing.
Some states, such as Vermont, offer a number of instant win games, ranging from Keno and Street Fighter II Instant Win to Pull Tabs. These games are available on the web and through apps for smartphones and tablets. Similarly, the Pennsylvania iLottery features a variety of online scratch cards and instant win games.