Online lottery is a popular way to win cash prizes. It offers the same great odds as traditional lotteries, but with a little more convenience. The internet also makes it easy to play from anywhere, anytime. You can even buy tickets for national lotteries through state-regulated platforms.

The best online lottery sites make it easy to buy and claim your winnings. In addition to offering a range of instant-win games, these websites also provide access to other lottery tools and resources.

You can play online lottery games on your mobile device with a browser, or download a lottery app to use on your smartphone or tablet. These apps are regulated and secure, ensuring that your details remain private and protected.

Some of the most popular online lottery games include Powerball, Mega Millions, Lotto 47 and Fantasy 5. You can also play a variety of games, including raffles, scratch cards and keno.

Unlike other forms of gambling, online lotteries are legal in the United States. This is because the Wire Act, which outlawed electronic transactions related to gambling, was clarified in 2011. The US Department of Justice ruled that the act only applied to sports betting. This opinion opened the door for online lotteries in the US, with New York and Illinois becoming the first to offer them.

Most of the top lottery sites are licensed by a reputable jurisdiction and are available to anyone over the age of 18. To play online, you must register an account with an approved vendor. These vendors will send you a username and password that you can use to purchase tickets.

These vendors will usually also have a live chat support team. They can answer questions, help you choose your numbers and verify your account.

You can play these games on your desktop computer, laptop, tablet or mobile phone. These devices generally need a bit of Wi-Fi or data to work, but they can be used from any location in the world.

The jackpots in these games vary, but they can often be worth millions of dollars. They are also an excellent way to pass the time and relax at home or work.

If you win, the money will be automatically deposited in your account. However, you should check with your bank to make sure that you can withdraw the money without any problems.

In some cases, you will be required to visit your local lottery headquarters to claim the prize. This depends on the size of your win and the laws in your state.

Some of the best online lotteries will pay your tax on winnings over $600. These sites will also send you a W2-G form to fill out and submit to the IRS. The amount you are liable to pay will depend on the tax rate in your state, but it should be less than 24% of the prize money.

You may also be able to use the cash you win for your own personal use or to fund a charity or other project. Some of these online lotteries donate a percentage of their profits to a number of different charitable organizations, ranging from health and education to the environment and more.