There are a variety of benefits to playing the lottery online. For one thing, you don’t have to deal with a middleman and pay the commission. This makes the process of purchasing lottery tickets online easier and less stressful than in the real world. Online lottery websites also charge the same price as their brick-and-mortar counterparts, so you don’t have to worry about inflated prices.

The US lottery is offered in seven jurisdictions. Until 2015, eight jurisdictions had online lotteries, but one of them, Minnesota, stopped offering the service. This was made possible by the 2011 clarification of the Wire Act by the Department of Justice, which opened the door for states to offer lottery tickets online. Many states have their own lotto online apps, while others use third-party applications to accept payments. The states that do not offer lottery tickets online cite verification issues.

Many online lottery sites use geolocation software to verify where you live. They also have security measures in place to protect your personal information. To play, you must be at least 18 years old and a resident of the state in which you’re playing. This is so the site can ensure that you’re a legitimate player.

Many online lottery sites also have lottery agents, who buy tickets for you. They upload your tickets to a secure online database. However, these agents do not claim the prizes. If you win, the winning ticket is couriered to your home.