Get Powerball & Mega Millions jackpots and fun daily games on your phone!

Download the official lottery app for fun, convenience and information at your fingertips. Play responsibly. Don’t use the app while crossing streets, operating motor vehicles or chain saws. And always play within your state’s legal limit.

Lotteries offer a chance to win a prize in exchange for a small payment, typically a percentage of ticket sales. Historically, prize money has been in the form of cash or valuable goods. The first modern government-run lotteries were established in Puerto Rico in 1934 and New Hampshire in 1964. Lottery games are now available in most states, with prizes ranging from a few hundred dollars to millions of dollars. In addition to traditional lotteries, many offer instant tickets such as scratch-offs and keno, and some offer video lottery terminals.

The early American era of the lottery was marked by scandals. The Louisiana State Lottery Company, which operated nationwide, was so rife with corruption that it took the federal government to shut it down in 1890. Despite this, the lottery remains an important source of public funds. In California, for example, it accounts for one percent of the state budget each year. But it also distorts the political debate over tax increases. Lottery revenue can make it harder to pass much needed tax increases, because voters think that schools and other vital services are lavishly supported by gambling proceeds. This is particularly true in communities that are disproportionately poor, black or Latino.