Lottery
Official lotteries and licensed couriers by place, the exact odds of every major draw, syndicates and scams to avoid.
Where it is legal
Status in each place we cover, checked against the regulator. Tap a place for the full picture and, where it is allowed, the sites we list there.
- United KingdomLegal and licensed18+
- OntarioLegal and licensed18+
- AlbertaLegal and licensed18+
- Rest of CanadaBeing checked with the regulator
- AlabamaNot legal online
- AlaskaNot legal online
- ArizonaNot legal online
- ArkansasLegal and licensed18+
- CaliforniaNot legal online
- ColoradoLegal and licensed18+
- ConnecticutLegal and licensed18+
- DelawareLegal and licensed18+
- District of ColumbiaLegal and licensed18+
- FloridaNot legal online
- GeorgiaLegal and licensed18+
- HawaiiNot legal online
- IdahoNot legal online
- IllinoisLegal and licensed18+
- IndianaNot legal online
- IowaNot legal online
- KansasLegal and licensed18+
- KentuckyLegal and licensed18+
- LouisianaNot legal online
- MaineNot legal online
- MarylandNot legal online
- MassachusettsLegal and licensed21+
- MichiganLegal and licensed18+
- MinnesotaNot legal online
- MississippiNot legal online
- MissouriNot legal online
- MontanaLegal and licensed18+
- NebraskaNot legal online
- NevadaNot legal online
- New HampshireLegal and licensed18+
- New JerseyLegal and licensed18+
- New MexicoNot legal online
- New YorkLegal and licensed18+
- North CarolinaLegal and licensed18+
- North DakotaLegal and licensed18+
- OhioNot legal online
- OklahomaNot legal online
- OregonNot legal online
- PennsylvaniaLegal and licensed18+
- Rhode IslandLegal and licensed18+
- South CarolinaNot legal online
- South DakotaNot legal online
- TennesseeLegal and licensed18+
- TexasNot legal online
- UtahNot legal online
- VermontNot legal online18+
- VirginiaLegal and licensed18+
- WashingtonNot legal online18+
- West VirginiaLegal and licensed18+
- WisconsinNot legal online18+
- WyomingNot legal online18+
Learn before you play
Lottery · 4 min read
Lottery syndicates: how pools work, the maths and disputes
A syndicate buys more lines and splits any prize. What that does to your odds and your share, worked through with real numbers, and how to set one up properly.
Lottery · 5 min read
Powerball and Mega Millions odds, made visible
The real odds of Powerball and Mega Millions, what 1 in 292 million looks like, and why the advertised jackpot is not what a ticket is worth.
Lottery · 5 min read
Lottery couriers explained: how they work, fees and the law
Couriers buy official lottery tickets on your behalf and hold them for you. How the model works, what it costs, how prizes are paid and where it is legal.
Lottery · 7 min read
Lottery win scams: why fake win messages ask for a fee first
How fake lottery wins, fake jackpot winner giveaways and prize 'processing fees' work, how to check a real win, and who to tell if you have already paid.
Stay safe
We earn commission when you sign up through our links. It never changes a score, and paid placements are labelled. How we make money
Lottery: what people ask
Can I buy lottery tickets online?
In many places, yes, through official channels. In the US it depends on the state: Pennsylvania sells Powerball and Mega Millions through its own iLottery to players 18 and over who are in the state, while New Jersey sells online only through registered couriers. In British Columbia, PlayNow is the only legal online gambling site. Buy only from the official lottery or its authorised partners.
Source: WJET/YourErie: Pennsylvania Lottery Powerball and Mega Millions can now be purchased online (17 Jan 2020); New Jersey Lottery: FAQs
What is a lottery courier and is it legal?
A courier is a company that buys official tickets at a licensed retailer on your behalf and sends you a scan. Legality depends on the state. New Jersey allows couriers registered with its lottery, but you must be in the state when you buy. Texas went the other way in 2025: under SB 3070, selling lottery tickets online or through apps is a misdemeanour.
Source: New Jersey Lottery: FAQs; Texas Tribune: Texas Lottery Commission abolished, couriers restricted (SB 3070)
Are lottery winnings taxed?
In the US, yes. Lotteries must withhold 24% federal tax from prizes over $5,000, and many states add their own tax; New Jersey, for example, withholds 5% to 8% on larger prizes. In the UK, National Lottery wins are tax-free. In Canada, most lottery winnings are not taxed, but interest you earn after investing them is.
Source: New Jersey Lottery: FAQs; IRS: Instructions for Forms W-2G and 5754 (01/2026)
How long do I have to claim a lottery prize?
It varies by lottery, so check the back of your ticket or the lottery's rules. In New Jersey, for example, you have one year from the draw date to claim draw-game prizes, and scratch-offs expire one year after the game's announced end. Sign your ticket and keep it safe until you claim.
Source: New Jersey Lottery: FAQs
How old do you have to be to buy lottery tickets?
Usually 18, but it varies. In the UK, the National Lottery minimum age rose from 16 to 18 in October 2021. Most US state lotteries sell to adults 18 and over, as in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In British Columbia, you must be 19 or older for all gambling, including lottery tickets.
Source: GOV.UK: Government launches review to ensure gambling laws are fit for digital age (National Lottery age to 18); New Jersey Lottery: FAQs
I got a message saying I won a lottery. Is it real?
Probably not, especially if you never entered. The FTC warns that contact saying you won a lottery or sweepstakes is a common scam, and that being asked to wire money or share gift card numbers is a sure sign of fraud. Real lotteries do not ask you to pay to collect. Do not share bank details, and report it.
Source: FTC Consumer Advice: Winners are losers in lottery and sweepstakes scams