Online lottery is a form of gaming on the internet that allows players to share in the profits of a game. The process is simple. Essentially, a player selects the numbers on a screen and enters payment information. If the selected numbers match the ones drawn, the player wins a prize.

Although playing online lottery is not illegal in the United States, the laws governing the sale of these tickets are different from those that govern lottery games sold in person. This includes federal and state laws.

Lottery players are required to be at least 18 years of age to participate. In some states, only residents can purchase tickets online. Others allow anyone to play online in their state.

There are many types of lottery games. Daily lotteries are popular. A daily lottery allows players to make three to five selections. The odds of winning are higher for these smaller lotteries.

Other types of lottery games include syndicates. Lottery syndicates purchase 300 or more tickets, thereby improving their chances of winning. Syndicate plays can also be bought online.

While purchasing tickets online is not illegal, it opens the door to fly-by-night organizations that take advantage of customers. For example, in 2010, a lottery scam involving Chinese national Zhao Liqun allegedly stole $3.8 million from customers.

Another major drawback is the potential for cyber crime. Because the internet does not follow traditional postal code rules, a potential scammer may reroute the winnings to another location.