If you live in a state with an official lottery, you can buy tickets online by subscribing to their website. You can choose your number ahead of time, and if you win, you’ll receive your winnings by mail or by check. In the US, there are no such things as offshore lottery providers, but the legality of them is still in question. As a rule, the official lottery recommends sticking with your state’s lottery, or the one that’s authorized to sell lottery tickets online.

Lottery retailers typically get a percentage of sales from the official lottery, which is the incentive to partner with them. Many lottery retailers also get commission from the lottery’s governing body, which serves as both an authoritative and advisory role. In addition, retailers can participate in consignment billing, which allows them to sell tickets before being billed and allows them to have more tickets on hand in case they win. Another option for lottery retailers is a corporate account, which is typically owned by a large merchant with multiple locations and a central headquarters.

The official lottery in North Carolina is called the North Carolina Education Lottery. The lottery has helped provide funding for educational programs in the state since 2005. To date, the lottery has contributed over $5.5 billion to educational programs. Its three in-house draw games and three multi-state games are broadcast live on six TV stations.