The lottery is a popular pastime for many people, with a chance to win big money with just a couple of bucks. But it’s not all about winning, the money raised helps fund state programs like education, veterans services and natural resources. But with so much going on in daily life, it’s hard to remember to pick up a ticket.
Fortunately, it’s easy to play the lottery online. You can purchase tickets for the Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots, as well as other state games. Currently, seven states allow online purchases, including Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, and New Jersey.
You can purchase tickets online through the official state lottery website, or private businesses such as Jackpocket and TheLotter. State-regulated apps like these are encrypted to protect your privacy and security, and are vetted by outside independent testing agencies to ensure fairness. They also use geolocation to track your location and verify that you’re a native of the state you’re playing in.
The first step in buying a lottery ticket online is choosing the type of game you want to play. You can choose between a scratch off (aka instant) or regular lottery game. Scratch offs offer a variety of prizes, with top-prizes often reaching $1 million. While there are no guarantees, you can improve your chances of winning by researching previous results. For example, it’s been shown that a number like 7 is more likely to be drawn than a number like 50.