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Online play by state
Online lottery in the United States works in three main ways: official state-run sales where residents buy real tickets directly, licensed courier services that purchase a real retail ticket on your behalf, and online alternatives — scratch-card and sweepstakes-style sites that are legal but are not lottery tickets. Availability depends on your state, so start there to see which of these actually exist where you live.
Written byJacob D.FounderKnow the difference
In the U.S., online lottery is not one product — it's three. Official state sales, licensed couriers, and online alternatives look similar from the outside but work differently, cost differently, and are regulated differently. Here's what each one actually is.
Some states let residents buy draw games, instant games, keno, or subscriptions directly through a state lottery website or app.
Best for
Buying directly from the state lottery
Couriers place official ticket orders with licensed retailers on your behalf, then handle scans, storage, and prize-support logistics.
Best for
Getting a real ticket ordered online in supported states
These are online scratch-style products, not lottery ticket purchases.
Best for
Quick scratch-style online play
These are sweepstakes products with their own rules, not a way to buy Powerball, Mega Millions, or state draw tickets.
Best for
Online play when a real ticket is not the goal
Legality
Yes — online lottery is legal in the United States, but it is regulated state by state, not federally. Whether you can legally buy a lottery ticket online, use a courier, or play a sweepstakes-style alternative depends entirely on where you live. There is no single nationwide rule.
Legal in a growing set of states that have launched iLottery, including Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Kentucky, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Virginia, Illinois, DC, North Carolina, West Virginia, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Some states (New York, Maryland, North Dakota) allow subscription-only online access. Purchasers must be physically inside state lines and over the state's minimum age (usually 18; 21 in some jurisdictions).
Legal in states where the state lottery permits licensed third-party ticket delivery, including Texas, New York, Arizona, Colorado, New Jersey, Ohio, and others. The courier buys a real retail ticket on your behalf and provides scan proof or account tracking. Courier availability and rules change by state and are set by each state lottery, not federal law.
Legal in most U.S. states under sweepstakes and promotional-gaming law, but these are not lottery tickets. Stake.us is unavailable in 17 states. Scratchee operates as a promotional scratch-card platform per its terms, with state restrictions listed on its site. Alternatives are legal where they operate, but they are not a substitute for buying Powerball, Mega Millions, or a state draw ticket.
For the specific legal path in your state, use the state directory below.
Before you play
Whether you're opening a state account, signing up with a courier, or trying an online alternative, the sign-up process has a few things in common. Here's what to have ready — and what to watch for.
Most platforms require 18+; some states and most sweepstakes-style alternatives require 21+. Every regulated platform runs identity verification: government-issued ID, last four of your SSN, and address verification are standard before your first purchase or withdrawal.
Official state platforms and couriers verify that you are physically inside an allowed state at the moment of purchase, usually via GPS or IP check. You cannot legally buy online from out of state, even if you are a resident traveling elsewhere.
ACH and debit cards are standard. For lottery and courier purchases, credit cards are restricted or blocked by many issuers. Licensed couriers such as Jackpot.com typically charge a commission on account deposits rather than per-ticket fees. Sweepstakes-style alternatives use their own token or coin systems and may accept additional payment methods.
Most regulated platforms and licensed couriers offer deposit, spend, and session limits. Set them before your first deposit and adjust as needed. If gambling stops being fun or becomes a problem, help is available 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER.
By state
Start with your state. That is the quickest way to tell whether you have direct state sales, courier access, or only alternative online options.
All state guides
Search by state and compare official online sales, courier access, scratch-card alternatives, and sweepstakes-style options in one place.
Alabama
Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Alaska
Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Arizona
Courier · Scratch-style
Arkansas
Courier · Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
California
Scratch-style
Colorado
Courier · Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Connecticut
Official · Scratch-style
Delaware
Official · Scratch-style
District of Columbia
Official · Courier · Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Florida
Sweepstakes
Georgia
Official · Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Hawaii
Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Idaho
Courier · Scratch-style
Illinois
Official · Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Indiana
Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Iowa
Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Kansas
Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Kentucky
Official · Scratch-style
Louisiana
No supported online option
Maine
Courier · Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Maryland
Official · Scratch-style
Massachusetts
Courier · Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Michigan
Official
Minnesota
Courier · Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Mississippi
Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Missouri
Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Montana
Courier
Nebraska
Courier · Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Nevada
No supported online option
New Hampshire
Official · Courier · Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
New Jersey
Courier
New Mexico
Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
New York
Official · Courier
North Carolina
Official · Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
North Dakota
Official · Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Ohio
Courier · Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Oklahoma
Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Oregon
Courier · Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Pennsylvania
Official · Scratch-style
Rhode Island
Official · Scratch-style
South Carolina
Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
South Dakota
Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Tennessee
Scratch-style
Texas
Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Utah
Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Vermont
Scratch-style
Virginia
Official · Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Washington
No supported online option
West Virginia
Official · Courier · Scratch-style
Wisconsin
Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Wyoming
Scratch-style · Sweepstakes
Editorial index
Move straight into the path that matches what you want to compare next, from the mixed-category guide to bonus checks, courier rules, and alternative-specific bonus research.
Start with the featured roundups if you want the fastest answer, then use the supporting guides for courier fit and alternative-specific detail.
Compare official routes, couriers, and alternatives in one honest mixed-category guide.
Start with the bonus-led picks worth checking before you commit to a signup.
Understand legality, official-vs-courier fit, fees, and ticket handling before you use a courier.
Open the alternative-specific bonus page when you want sweepstakes-style options on purpose.
Independent editorial guides with legality, offer context, and signup-risk considerations reviewed for each path.
How we review
This page compares what the site actually is, where it works, how clear the terms are, and whether the experience stays understandable once you click through.
Start with the kind of site it is. A state lottery account, a courier, and an online alternative should not be compared as if they solve the same problem.
After that, availability, fees, terms, and basic usability matter more than any flashy sign-up hook.
Can you tell whether it is a state lottery site, a courier, or an online alternative without guessing?
Does the site match what someone is actually trying to do online?
Can people meaningfully use it where they live?
Are costs, offer rules, restrictions, and important conditions clear before signup?
Is the signup path easy to understand without avoidable confusion?
Does the brand earn confidence through transparency, support, and clear expectations?
By partner
Use these pages when you want the full review on Jackpot.com, Stake.us, or Scratchee before you sign up.
Advertising disclosure: Lottery Valley may earn a commission when you sign up through the partner links on this page. This does not influence our editorial coverage, state availability information, or review scoring.
Lottery courier
Buy official state lottery tickets online in eligible markets with scanned proof, stored tickets, and a cleaner digital purchase flow.
Built for players who want real lottery-ticket ordering in supported courier states.
Sweepstakes alternative
Play scratch-style and casino-style games through a sweepstakes model built for players who want online gameplay, not official lottery tickets.
Built for players who want sweepstakes-style online gameplay and broad state access.
Scratch-card alternative
A scratch-card-style platform built around quick online play and a simple welcome offer.
Built for players who want a scratch-card-style online experience with broad state coverage.
These answers cover the main questions about online lottery in the U.S. — legality, courier services, which states allow it, and how alternatives differ from real lottery tickets.
Responsible play and partner transparency
Lottery Valley publishes lottery results, tools, guides, and educational content for U.S. users. Because some pages include online-play offers and partner referrals, responsible-play guidance and affiliate disclosure stay visible throughout the product.
Responsible play
Lottery content should inform users, not push reckless behavior. Help resources should stay visible and easy to reach.
Chance still decides outcomes
Predictions, generators, and strategy content do not guarantee winnings. Lottery outcomes remain chance-based.
Age, eligibility, and state rules vary
Eligibility, age limits, and online-play access vary by state and operator. Verify those rules before you act.
Help is available
Free and confidential support is available 24/7 through the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Affiliate disclosure
Lottery Valley may earn compensation when users click certain partner links, use a promo code, create an account, or complete a qualifying action with a partner.
Georgia Lottery promotion
Official Georgia Lottery destination; Lottery Valley's commercial relationship is through Brightstar Lottery.
Jackpot.com
Lottery courier partner
Stake.us
Sweepstakes gaming partner
Scratchee
Online scratch-card partner
BorrowMoney.us
Financial-services referral partner
Partners are separate companies with their own terms, fees, eligibility rules, and legal status. Review each partner's official terms before acting.
