Playing the lottery online is a convenient way to purchase tickets for any lottery drawing. Players can register, pay for subscriptions, check winning numbers, see past results and extend their subscriptions all from the same platform. These websites are regulated and secure. Most also offer a mobile version for players on the go.

The popularity of online lottery is partly due to its convenience, but the industry has also benefited from innovations in gameplay and jackpot size. Players can now choose from a wide range of instant win games, which increase player engagement and create bigger payouts than traditional lotteries. They can also join lottery syndicates to increase their odds of winning by purchasing more tickets.

While some opponents of online lottery point to potential problems with problem gambling and cannibalization of traditional sales, this doesn’t appear to be the case. For example, in Pennsylvania where PA iLottery launched in 2018, lottery ticket sales remained healthy and steady.

In addition to the official state lottery websites, players can also buy tickets online through third party lottery courier services. These companies take a cautious approach to legality by only selling tickets in states that have given them tacit approval. These companies offer a hybrid form of online lottery by taking orders online and then sending agents to authorized retailers to purchase the actual lottery tickets. The resulting tickets are then scanned and saved to the player’s account. They can then be claimed in a similar fashion to a Powerball or Mega Millions ticket.