Online lottery websites allow players to purchase tickets for national, regional, and local lotteries. They’re often operated by private companies and act as middlemen between you and the lottery. They may also offer instant games and other casino-style games, as well as lottery jackpots and giveaways.

The best lottery sites are regulated and feature SSL encryption software to keep your personal details safe. They also have a wide range of payment methods, allowing players from all over the world to join in.

Buying lottery tickets online is easy and convenient, but you should make sure you’re using a legitimate lottery site. These sites should be authorised by a state gaming authority and have licensing information clearly displayed on their homepage.

They should accept a wide variety of deposit and withdrawal options, too, including credit and debit cards, PayPal, and Skrill. They should have secure banking systems and provide a password-protected account.

You can also buy online tickets for multiple games, and some sites even offer subscriptions that let you play on a pay-as-you-go basis in each consecutive draw. This saves you money and can be a great way to ensure you never miss a draw.

Some online lottery sites also support pools, allowing you to pool your money together for group ticket purchases. These can be especially useful for groups of friends or coworkers who want to play together but don’t have enough to buy individual tickets.

Regardless of where you buy your lottery tickets, remember that they must be redeemed within 30 days to avoid tax penalties. If you win a prize of $600 or more, state online lottery operators will send you a W2-G form to fill out and submit to the IRS.