Oregon Looks to Move on From Sports Betting Lottery System
Nick Wojcik
January 13, 2021
Online Lottery Legal News – State by State Tracker
Online lottery has moved from a niche idea to a real part of the U.S. gaming landscape. As of October 2026, about 18 U.S. lotteries, including Washington, D.C., sell lottery products online in some form, according to the lottery industry group NASPL's June 2026 count, which treats Massachusetts as the 18th. Kansas launched in February 2025, Delaware in January 2026 and Massachusetts on July 27, 2026. Many other states still limit lottery play to retail stores, and a few have banned online sales outright. The exact count depends on what you include, because some states sell draw tickets, some sell instant games, and others offer subscriptions only.
Where Is Online Lottery Legal?
Online lottery is legal in about 18 U.S. lotteries, including D.C., and each state sets its own rules. Some states sell draw tickets and instant games on an official site or app, some offer a narrower product, and many still sell tickets only in stores.
Use the interactive map to check the status of any state at a glance, then click it to jump to that state’s lottery guide where we have one. Each state is color-coded according to its current status:
🟢 Legal (Online): The state lottery sells draw tickets, instant games or both on an official website or app.
🟡 Limited: The state lottery offers only a narrower online product, such as eInstant games only or draw game subscriptions.
🔴 No official online sales: Lottery tickets are sold in stores only. Some of these states allow courier apps, while Texas bans online ticket sales.
⚪ No state lottery: The state does not operate a lottery.
The table below lists what each state offers in October 2026, with links to our state guides. States split into four groups: draw games and eInstants, draw games only, a narrower offering, and in-person sales only.
| State | Official online sales | Details | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | Draw games and instant games | Online sales began in 2012; instant games are called Diggi Games | Georgia lottery promo code |
| Michigan | Draw games and instant games | Launched in 2014 | Michigan lottery promo code |
| Kentucky | Draw games and instant games | Launched in 2016 | |
| Pennsylvania | Draw games and eInstant games | Launched in 2018 | PA iLottery bonus code |
| New Hampshire | Draw games and eInstant games | Launched in 2018 | |
| Virginia | Draw games and instant games | Launched in July 2020; debit cards allowed, credit cards not | Virginia lottery promo code |
| District of Columbia | Draw games and instant games | Launched in December 2020 | |
| North Carolina | Draw games and Digital Instants | Online draw sales for several years; Digital Instants launched in November 2023 | |
| Rhode Island | Draw games, eInstant games and iKeno | Launched in 2020 with eInstants and iKeno; draw games since added | |
| West Virginia | Draw games and instant games | Launched October 31, 2024 | |
| Kansas | Draw games and eInstant games | Launched in February 2025; sold at PlayOnKansas.com | |
| Massachusetts | Draw games and eInstant games | Launched July 27, 2026; players must be 21+ | Massachusetts lottery promo code |
| Illinois | Draw games, Fast Play and subscriptions | Pilot in 2012, full launch in 2017 | Illinois lottery promo code |
| Connecticut | Draw games | Online draw ticket sales began in 2024 | |
| Tennessee | Powerball, Mega Millions, Cash 3 and Cash 4 | Official app launched in January 2025 | Tennessee lottery promo code |
| North Dakota | Draw games and subscriptions | Pick & Click supports one-time plays and subscriptions | |
| Delaware | eInstant games | Launched January 2026; online draw games planned | |
| New York | Subscriptions only | Mega Millions, Powerball, Millionaire for Life and LOTTO | New York lottery promo code |
| Maryland | No direct online sales | Subscriptions can be set up online, but the application and payment must be mailed | |
| California | None | State lottery says online and mobile sales are illegal | California lottery promo code |
| Florida | None | No tickets sold through the lottery website or app | Florida lottery promo code |
| Maine | None | No state platform; Jackpocket courier available | |
| Ohio | None | No iLottery site; couriers operate | Ohio lottery promo code |
| Texas | None | Online ticket sales banned by a 2025 law | Texas lottery promo code |
| Washington | None | Internet ticket sales prohibited | Washington lottery promo code |
States With Draw Games and eInstants Online
Georgia, Michigan, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Kansas, Massachusetts and D.C. sell both draw game tickets and online instant games through official sites and apps. Players register, verify their identity and must be physically inside the state when they buy.
Georgia was one of the first movers and remains one of the broadest. Players Club accounts can buy Powerball, Mega Millions, Cash 3, Cash 4, Fantasy 5 and Keno tickets online, along with the online-only Diggi Games.
Michigan launched online sales in 2014 and is still one of the largest iLottery markets in the country. Players can buy draw tickets and choose from a large library of instant games.
Pennsylvania launched its iLottery in 2018 and offers online draw tickets plus a large catalog of eInstant games. It is also the clearest example of a lottery and online casinos sharing a market, which we cover below.
Virginia sells Mega Millions, Powerball, Cash4Life, Pick 3, Pick 4 and Cash 5 online, plus digital-only games. State law allows debit cards but not credit cards for lottery purchases.
Kansas is the newest state to join before Massachusetts. Its PlayOnKansas.com platform launched in February 2025 with Powerball, Mega Millions and about 20 eInstant games, and it has since added Lotto America and Millionaire for Life. Players must be 18 or older and located in Kansas.
Rhode Island launched its iLottery in 2020 with eInstant games and iKeno, and its official app now also sells draw games such as Powerball and Mega Millions.
Massachusetts launched Mass Lottery Online on July 27, 2026, two years after the state approved online sales. It sells Mass Cash, Megabucks, Mega Millions, Powerball and Millionaire for Life tickets, plus eInstant games and the online-only Mass 3 and Mass 4. Online players must be 21 or older, even though the retail age is 18.
States Focused on Draw Games
Four states focus on draw games. Illinois started selling tickets online as a pilot in 2012 and launched its full iLottery site in 2017. It sells Lotto, Lucky Day Lotto, Powerball, Mega Millions and Pick games, plus Fast Play games and subscriptions. Connecticut began online draw ticket sales in 2024. Tennessee launched its official iLottery app in January 2025 with Powerball, and it now sells Powerball, Mega Millions, Cash 3 and Cash 4 tickets. North Dakota lets players buy individual draw game plays or recurring subscriptions through Pick & Click.
States With a Narrower Online Offering
Delaware launched eInstant games in January 2026 and plans to add draw games such as Powerball and Mega Millions later, so check the Delaware Lottery for the current lineup.
New York offers online subscriptions to draw games, but not individual tickets or instant games, and subscriptions run for up to one year. Maryland does not sell online: players can set up a draw game subscription online, but the application and payment must be mailed.
States Without Official Online Lottery Sales
Most other states sell lottery tickets only through licensed retailers. California's lottery states that online and mobile ticket sales are illegal. Washington prohibits internet ticket sales, and Florida does not sell tickets through its website or app either.
Can you buy Maine lottery tickets online? Not from the state. The Maine Lottery does not sell tickets online, but players inside Maine can use the Jackpocket courier app. Ohio works the same way: it does not run an official iLottery site, but third-party courier services have operated there.
Texas went the other direction in 2025. A new law prohibits online ticket sales, including through couriers, and moved oversight from the abolished Texas Lottery Commission to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. New Jersey sits in between. It adopted rules in 2023 allowing the Lottery Division to sell draw game tickets online, but the state has not yet launched direct online sales, and registered lottery couriers continue to operate.
Lottery Courier Services
Courier apps such as Jackpocket and Jackpot.com provide another way to order physical lottery tickets online in states where they are permitted. You place an order online, and an employee buys the physical ticket at a licensed retailer on your behalf. Couriers are private companies, they charge fees, and they operate only where state law allows. They are regulated in states such as New Jersey and New York, available in Maine and Ohio without a state platform, and banned in Texas.
Can You Buy Lottery Tickets Online?
Yes, but only in some states. Whether you can buy a ticket online depends on where you are physically located when you buy. There are three ways to play lottery online in the U.S.:
- Official state lottery site or app: the state sells draw tickets, instant games or both directly to registered players.
- Subscriptions: a few states let you prepay for recurring draw game entries, but not buy individual tickets.
- Courier apps: private companies such as Jackpocket and Jackpot.com take your order online and buy the physical ticket for you, where state law allows it.
Can You Play Scratch-Off and Draw Games Online?
Draw games such as Powerball and Mega Millions are the most widely available online lottery product. Scratch-off tickets are different. You generally cannot buy paper scratch-offs online, but states with an official platform sell eInstants, digital instant-win games that work like scratch-offs and reveal the result as soon as you play. They are sold in Georgia, Michigan, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Kansas, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware and D.C. Some couriers also offer digital scratch-style games in select states.
Is Online Lottery Legal in the U.S.?
Yes, where a state authorizes it. Online lottery is regulated at the state level, and the federal Wire Act is no longer the main obstacle. Before 2011, most states stayed away from online lotteries because of uncertainty over that law. In 2011, Illinois and New York asked the Justice Department whether selling lottery tickets online to adults inside their borders would violate it. The department's Office of Legal Counsel concluded that the Wire Act covers sports betting only, so non-sports lottery sales were not barred.
That reading was tested later. A 2018 Justice Department opinion reversed course and said the Wire Act reaches non-sports gambling. New Hampshire's lottery sued, and in January 2021 the First Circuit ruled that the Wire Act applies only to sports wagering. The Justice Department did not seek Supreme Court review, leaving the ruling in place.
States still decide whether to authorize online lottery and under what rules, and operators must comply with applicable federal and state law. In practice, players generally must be physically located in the state when they buy, which is why platforms use geolocation. A player in Ohio cannot buy tickets on the Michigan Lottery site or use a Michigan promo code.
How Online Lottery Spread
- 2012: Georgia and Illinois begin selling online.
- 2014 to 2018: Michigan (2014), Kentucky (2016), and New Hampshire and Pennsylvania (2018) launch.
- 2020: Virginia, Rhode Island and D.C. launch.
- 2023 to 2024: North Carolina adds Digital Instants (2023), and Connecticut and West Virginia launch (2024).
- 2025 to 2026: Tennessee and Kansas launch (2025), followed by Delaware (January 2026) and Massachusetts (July 2026).
Online Lottery vs Online Casinos
Lottery sites and online casinos now share markets in Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Delaware. Michigan shows that a successful online lottery does not keep casinos out. The state launched regulated online casino gaming and sports betting on January 22, 2021, and it now has a mature iGaming market alongside its lottery.
Some Pennsylvania eInstant games have casino-style mechanics, and they drew pushback from casino operators. Those operators pay licensing fees and significant tax rates, and they argue the state should not compete with them using casino-style games. Lottery players can also start at 18 in Pennsylvania, while casino players must be 21.
| Feature | Online lottery | Online casino |
|---|---|---|
| Operator | The state lottery | Private operators licensed by the state |
| Typical minimum age | 18 (21 in Massachusetts) | 21 |
| Main products | Draw tickets, instant games, keno, subscriptions | Slots, table games, video poker, live dealer |
Who Can Play?
Age limits are set state by state. Most official platforms require players to be 18 or older, while Massachusetts requires 21 for online play. You must also be physically inside the state when you buy, and platforms check this with geolocation. Registration usually includes identity verification, and payment rules vary, so read the lottery's own terms before you deposit.
Treat online lottery as entertainment and only spend what you can afford to lose. Most platforms offer deposit limits, time reminders and self-exclusion tools. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call or text 1-800-MY-RESET, the National Problem Gambling Helpline. The older number 1-800-522-4700 also remains active.
What Is Next for Online Lottery
More states are weighing online sales, but the path is not smooth. Colorado's lottery commission approved online ticket sales in November 2025, with a launch targeted for 2027. Lawmakers pushed back, and the law signed on May 29, 2026 bans credit-based lottery ticket sales. The final version dropped the proposed ban on online sales, so Colorado's plans were not blocked outright, although how the rollout proceeds under the new rules remains to be seen. Indiana considered online lottery legislation in 2026, but it did not become law. New Jersey adopted rules for online draw sales in 2023 and has not launched them.
Existing programs are still growing. Delaware plans to add draw games, and Massachusetts says it will add new eInstant games every two weeks and virtual horse racing later in 2026. The direction of travel is clear, but each state still decides for itself, and Texas shows that the decision can also go the other way.
Online Lottery FAQs
About 18 U.S. lotteries, including Washington, D.C., sell lottery products online in some form. Georgia, Michigan, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Kansas, Massachusetts and D.C. sell draw tickets and instant games. Illinois, Connecticut, Tennessee and North Dakota focus on draw games, while Delaware offers eInstants and New York offers subscriptions. Maryland does not sell online. Check the state table above for details.
Yes, in states that sell tickets online. You can buy tickets on the official lottery website or app in states such as Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kansas, Massachusetts and Tennessee. In some states without an official platform, such as Maine and Ohio, a courier app can buy the physical ticket for you. You must be physically inside the state when you buy.
Yes. Many states with official online lottery platforms sell Powerball online, including Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kansas, Massachusetts, Tennessee, New Hampshire and North Carolina. Availability varies by state.
Not paper scratch-offs. States with an official platform sell eInstants, which are digital instant-win games that work like scratch-offs. They are available in states such as Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Rhode Island, Kansas and Massachusetts.
Yes, where a state authorizes it. The First Circuit ruled in 2021 that the Wire Act’s prohibitions are limited to bets or wagers on sporting events. State law still determines whether online lottery is allowed in a particular state.
The safest option is your state’s official lottery website or app, where one exists. If your state has no official platform, use a courier service that is licensed or permitted to operate in your state, and avoid unregulated offshore sites that are not affiliated with a state lottery.
Most official platforms require players to be 18 or older. Massachusetts is an exception, with a minimum age of 21 for online play even though retail players can start at 18.
Yes. Official platforms and couriers use geolocation, and you must be physically inside the state at the time of purchase. You can sometimes register from elsewhere, but you generally cannot complete an online lottery purchase while physically outside the state.
Yes. Lottery winnings are taxable income at the federal level, and some winnings are subject to federal withholding, generally at 24% when the withholding rules apply. State tax treatment varies. This is general information and not tax advice, so talk to a qualified tax professional.
No. A 2025 Texas law prohibits online lottery ticket sales, including through courier apps, so players must buy tickets from licensed retailers.
