The online lottery is a convenient way for US residents to buy tickets for Mega Millions, Powerball, and other state-sponsored lotteries. The best lottery sites make it easy to select numbers and purchase tickets from anywhere, including mobile devices. In addition, these sites are safe and secure. They also allow players to easily compare jackpots and odds.

While some states restrict online lottery sales, others have no such restrictions and offer players a wide variety of games and options to choose from. In addition, some websites allow players to play for free and earn bonuses. This allows them to try out the game without spending money, and many find that they enjoy it enough to continue playing regularly.

The first state to legally sell lottery tickets online was Illinois in 2012. Since then, more and more states have legalized the practice. However, they typically require lottery players to be within state lines when making a purchase. They use geolocation software to ensure that only people from their jurisdiction are purchasing tickets. This helps them to comply with federal laws on cross-state lotteries.

Other states like Pennsylvania offer online lottery games that are similar to those of their brick-and-mortar counterparts. They can be played through their official website or third-party apps, such as Jackpocket. These apps are available in several other states that don’t have their own official online lottery app, and they can be used to purchase tickets for games like Powerball or MegaMillions.