Lottery Online – What You Need to Know
In 2012, Illinois became the first state to offer lottery tickets for sale online. This paved the way for other states to follow suit. Today, more than a dozen US states have authorized measures to allow for online ticket sales, subscriptions, online scratch card-style games or all of the above.
Playing the Lottery Online
You can buy your lottery tickets online from any legal US lotto website. These websites are typically regulated by gambling commissions and are safe to use. In addition to selling lottery tickets, these sites can provide you with a range of other helpful services.
Getting Your Winnings To You
Lottery websites often have systems in place for claiming prizes. These can be a bit complicated for jackpots and other large amounts, but they’re usually pretty straightforward for smaller ones.
Taxes
Most online lotto websites will automatically send you a W2-G form to fill out and submit to the IRS on prizes that are over $600. They’ll also automatically withhold 24% federal tax and whatever the rate is in your state.
Checking the Odds
When playing the lottery, it’s a good idea to compare the odds of different games. This will help you make the best decision on how much to spend and which lottery to play.
Waiting for the Big Jackpots
The best way to increase your chances of winning a lottery is to wait until a prize gets big enough to give you a good return on your investment. This is especially true if you’re planning to buy lottery tickets regularly over a period of time.
