The official lottery is a game of chance in which you have to purchase a ticket and hope that you win. You can buy a lottery ticket by visiting a local retailer or by purchasing a subscription to lottery websites. These sites let you buy tickets from different retailers and will sometimes send a scan of your ticket if you win. There are a few things you should look for when buying tickets online, however.

The first recorded lotteries with money prizes were held in the Low Countries in the 15th century. During this period, various towns held public lotteries to raise funds for local projects, such as fortifications, or to help the poor. Although there is little evidence of lottery games prior to this period, the records of Ghent and L’Ecluse suggest that lotteries were conducted even earlier. A record from 9 May 1445 at L’Ecluse mentions a lottery that raised funds for city walls. The winning prize was 1737 florins, which is equal to about US$170,000 in today’s money.

When purchasing tickets online, you should look for the Secure Sockets Layer lock symbol in the address bar of the website. This ensures that all the information you are supplying is protected. It also ensures that any payment and personal information that you provide are encrypted. The Malta Gaming Authority is responsible for overseeing the official lottery.