The United States has 44 state lotteries and Washington, D.C., in addition to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Five states do not have state-run lotteries, including Alabama, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada, and Utah. However, there are many multi-jurisdictional lottery games, such as Powerball and Mega Millions, which can yield jackpots of up to $1 billion. These games have the potential to create millions of winners, and are therefore considered de facto national lotteries.
In the United States, there are two primary types of lotteries, known as five-digit and four-digit games. A five-digit game, or Pick 5, requires the player to choose five random numbers. Prize payouts are fixed regardless of the number of tickets sold. Daily numbers games, on the other hand, pay a prize that increases based on the number of draws and tickets sold. Most lottery games also have a “force majeure” clause that protects the winner in the event of non-performance.
While it’s not necessary to have a computer or laptop to purchase a lottery ticket, many popular online lotteries offer mobile applications. These mobile applications enable lottery players to buy tickets instantly and securely online, regardless of location. Additionally, some online lottery sites are optimized for mobile devices and are compatible with many different operating systems. Most top lottery websites will offer games for the most common states. These top lottery sites may not have smaller lottery games that are more popular, but these apps are a great way to try a new lottery game while on the go.