The online lottery is a great way to play a game that can lead to life-changing sums of money from the comfort of your home. All you need to do is select the numbers and click a button to secure your tickets. The best online lotteries also offer a number of different bonuses and promotions. Some even have dedicated loyalty programs that allow players to exchange accumulated points for free plays.

Buying lottery tickets online is easy, as you can do it from any device with an internet connection. Most sites automatically detect your location through your IP address, and will give you a list of available games that you can purchase based on your state’s rules. You can also use the search function to find specific games or categories of tickets.

Most states now allow you to buy lottery tickets online. The Pennsylvania Lottery is a good example. They allow you to purchase Powerball, Mega Millions and other Draw games and to play their eInstants online from any computer or mobile device, including PCs and Macs, iPhones and Androids. eInstant games cost as little as five cents to play, and winnings are deposited in your account instantly.

Aside from state-run lotteries, most online lottery games are operated by private businesses. These companies act as middlemen, purchasing entries to official government-run lotteries on behalf of their customers. In turn, they pay out the top prize amounts, while keeping a percentage of all lower-tier winnings.