Before playing the lottery online, you need to make sure you are using a legitimate vendor. Most vendors will not charge you to register with them, and the vendor will also be able to tell you where to send your winnings. You can also check reviews about a website before making a payment. Also, make sure you crush any sensitive data before sending it over the internet.

You must register with your state lottery website by providing your physical address and valid email. Once you have done this, you can then pick a lottery that you would like to play. Most sites accept Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal. Next, choose a lottery from their list. Some websites offer a huge selection of lottery games, from big-ticket jackpots like the US MegaMillions to smaller lotteries like Loto Quebec 49.

You can also purchase tickets in advance from lottery websites. Some of them have subscriptions that allow you to buy a set number of tickets at one time. This way, you don’t have to run to the retail store every week to play the lottery. You can even subscribe to a particular lottery game and automatically receive its draw numbers.

Currently, only seven jurisdictions offer an online lottery, down from eight states in 2015 when Minnesota canceled its program. A clarification by the Department of Justice in 2011 on the Wire Act allowed states to offer lottery tickets online. Some states have their own lottery online apps, while others defer to third-party lottery applications.