Online Lottery is one of the most popular forms of gambling in the US. Millions of people spend billions of dollars each year on lottery tickets, so it’s no wonder that the government wants to protect consumers from scams and fraud.
In order to prevent these problems, lottery retailers have to be licensed, have a criminal background check, and post a hefty bond. They also have to be carefully screened before they’re allowed to sell tickets in person.
While these safeguards work well for brick-and-mortar lottery stores, they’re not so effective when it comes to online sales. Buying lottery tickets on the Internet opens the door to fly-by-night companies that take advantage of customers, then disappear when they’re close to being caught.
To combat this problem, some states have opted to allow only a small number of online games. These include instant win scratch cards and drawing-style games like lotto and keno, as well as national lottery games with large jackpots.
Many of these states’ online lottery websites use geolocation technology to ensure that customers are purchasing lottery tickets within their state lines. This helps them comply with laws that prohibit lottery sales to residents outside their state.
Most online lottery sites are designed for desktop use, but some are also available in mobile apps. These are especially useful for players who need to be able to play on the go. In addition, most mobile apps have interfaces that are specifically built for playing lottery games on a mobile device.