Throughout the US, lots of states have their own lottery system. The biggest one is Powerball, which is run in more than 45 jurisdictions. Besides this popular game, there are several instant win games. There is also the Mega Millions, which has an estimated jackpot of up to $200 million.

Lotteries are the oldest form of legal gambling in the United States. Since the early 1700s, people have been playing this game to win cash prizes. Most of these winnings go to public schools, universities, hospitals, and community projects.

Buying a lottery ticket is easy and safe. You can get a ticket online for as little as a dollar. The best sites will also allow you to check the results of your lottery game online. However, some states do not allow buying tickets online. In these cases, your prize might be cashable at a retail location.

Online lotto websites are growing in the US. These services will bring the games to you, and your winnings are secure. Some of these sites will even send W2-G forms to you if you win over $500. They will automatically withhold 24% of your winnings as state tax, too.

Oregon has been in the lottery business since 1984. Its proceeds go to public schools, parks, and other state projects. Every year, Oregon pays out around $200 million to the state. This money is used to fund education, transportation, and health services.

North Dakota launched the lottery in 2004. Players must be at least 18 to participate. The proceeds from the lottery go to gambling treatment and prevention programs, along with education, and the state’s general fund. Unlike other lottery states, the North Dakota Lottery does not have any in-house games.

Pennsylvania offers a wide variety of draw games. Besides Keno, you can choose from 11 other draw games. Ticket prizes range from $1 to $20. Buying more tickets increases your chances of winning.

Rhode Island is another state that launched a lottery in 1974. The lottery offers instant win games, such as Lucky for Life, and online keno. RI profits go to education, public safety, and tax relief.

When it comes to online lotteries, only a few states offer them. As of now, seven of them have been sued by casinos, who claim that the instant games are too similar to online slot machines.

Washington DC and the Virgin Islands are the only other jurisdictions that operate a state-wide lottery. All of these states offer some kind of drawing game, though. Among them, you can choose from Powerball, Mega Millions, and other top-rated games.

Whether you want to play the lottery in person or online, make sure to learn the laws for each jurisdiction. Many states have strict verification requirements, so your prize might not be able to be claimed if it doesn’t come from a recognized lottery vendor. A good lottery site will also offer you a “check my numbers” tool to help you determine which numbers you have a chance of winning.