The United States has a long history of lotteries. From the early 1700s until the late 18th century, the colonial government was using lottery funds to finance local colleges, libraries, and militias. However, most forms of gambling were banned by 1900. Since then, the lottery has remained one of the only forms of legal gambling in the U.S. While the lottery industry is still small, it is growing and expanding.
Today, there are 45 states that run a lottery. In addition, the Virgin Islands and Washington D.C. operate their own lottery systems. These jurisdictions generate billions of dollars in revenue each year.
Although the lottery industry is growing, it is not as popular as sports betting or casinos. Several states are working on establishing online lottery operations. But before you go out and start winning, make sure you know all the legal stipulations. If you win a prize over $5K, the online site will automatically withhold 24% federal tax. They also will send you a W2-G form.
Currently, there are six states that offer legal online lotteries: Nevada, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Each state offers a variety of games and draws. Some are multi-state, but others are local. All of these jurisdictions are offering some instant win games as well. Those games are played from a computer or a smartphone. There are even some apps that you can download to play the lottery from your phone.
Powerball is one of the most common lottery games. This game is offered in a variety of states, including Colorado, Iowa, Indiana, and Wisconsin. A jackpot for this game can reach more than $1 billion. It is the largest national lottery in the U.S.
Mega Millions is another major lottery game. It is available in a variety of states, and the prize is nearly always $50 million. Players must match five numbers to win the grand prize. You can choose your own numbers for the Golden Mega Ball, which is worth an additional $50 million. If you don’t win, the prize rolls over to the next draw.
The Idaho Lottery has been around for more than two decades. It features Powerball and several in-house games. Two-thirds of the proceeds from these lottery games goes to public school funds and pension funds.
Michigan, Indiana, and New Hampshire are the other states that offer state-based lottery games. These jurisdictions all feature a variety of drawing games, as well as e-Instant games that can be played on a tablet or mobile device.
Iowa Lottery is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association. It offers a variety of games, including Cash4Life and Lotto America. Ticket prices range from $1 to $20. The state also runs five state-only draw games.
Pennsylvania has a collection of lottery games, including a variety of draw games and an exclusive Jungle Tumble jackpot. Ticket prizes range from $1 to $20. Whether you are an avid player or you’re just starting out, you can find a game that’s right for you.