Online Lottery Games for Real Money 2023

Playing online lottery games for real money is one of the most exciting pastimes around. Not only are lottery games easy to play, but they also give you the chance to win potentially life-changing jackpots.

While your chances of hitting such a jackpot are extremely slim, just taking part in lottery games is fun. So in this article, we’ll tell you what’s on offer and how you can get involved.

Best Online Lottery Games in the US

Online Lottery vs. Online Casino

When most people think about online gaming, it is usually online casino games that first come to mind. Over the last few decades, online casinos have exploded in popularity, and there are plenty of good reasons for that. Well-known games such as blackjack, roulette, video poker, and slots are easy and entertaining to play. And being able to enjoy them from the comfort of your own home instead of having to visit a land-based casino makes them widely accessible. 

The ability to play online lottery games for real money is a more recent development but it is now becoming just as popular in those states that have legalized the pastime. So why are people so keen to play online lottery games when there are so many online casino games available? And what, if anything, do lottery games offer that their casino cousins don’t?

There are several reasons why online lottery games are particularly appealing. Let’s take a quick look at four of the main ones.

Massive Prize Potential

As we said in our introduction, one of the biggest attractions of online lottery games is the amount of prize money that can be won. Different games offer different jackpots, and not all have the potential to change your life by any means. Some do, however, so if you want the chance to win $1 million, $10 million, or even more, online lotteries will be far more suitable than online casino games.

Ease of Involvement

Another advantage of lottery games is that they are very easy to play. All you have to do is pick a few numbers, or just buy a ticket and let the game generate your entry at random. Because all lotteries are games of pure chance, you will have the exact same chance of winning in both cases. This ease of involvement makes lotteries very good for anyone who just wants a chance to win some cash without having to get to grips with potentially complicated rules or strategies.

Scheduled Regularity

A third reason why people like to play online lottery games for real money is because many of them take place on a fixed schedule. That gives players something to look forward to each week.

For example, the PowerBall lottery takes place every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evening, while the Mega Millions lottery numbers are drawn every Tuesday and Friday evening. Buy tickets early and you’ll get to enjoy the building excitement of the draw looming ever-closer as well as the event itself.

Social Contribution

Last, but not least, is the social contribution that is made by participating in online lotteries. Every state and multi-state lottery in this country sees a percentage of the money raised from ticket sales being used for good causes of some kind. For example, when someone plays a Michigan Lottery or Virginia Lottery game, they are helping to supplement public education programs in those states. This gives online lottery games a charitable aspect that online casino games don’t have.

Playing Lottery Games in Michigan and Virginia

Two of the best states for anyone who wants to make a lottery ticket purchase online are Michigan and Virginia. We’ll now discuss both of those in turn so that you have an overview of what they offer. We’ll also provide links to our full reviews of the lotteries so that you can find out more if you want to do so.

Michigan Lottery

The Michigan Lottery was launched in 1972 as a way of raising money to support public schools in the state, and it continues to do just that. Anyone who is a US resident and aged 18 or over and in the state can play with the Michigan Lottery. A dedicated mobile means that you can give yourself a chance of winning no matter where you are.

A variety of games are available to play here, including:

• Big money multi-state games such as Mega Millions and PowerBall.
• Michigan Lottery draw games such as Fantasy 5 and Lotto 47.
• Online Raffle games like the Race to 10K Raffle.
• Online Instant games that cater to all tastes.

Most lottery fans don’t need any encouragement to play the Michigan Lottery, for obvious reasons. Even so, if you sign up for a new account using the promo code MIBONUS20 you will enjoy 20 free instant games and a 100% bonus worth up to $100 when you make your first deposit.

Virginia Lottery

The Virginia Lottery was born in 1987 and its first tickets went on sale in September 1988. Like the Michigan Lottery, the Virginia Lottery helps to supplement education in the state, with around $1.6 million being raised each and every day for K-12 public schools.

Anyone who is a US resident, of legal age (18 or older) and located in the state can play Virginia Lottery games. Just some of the games available here include:

• Multi-state lotteries such as PowerBall, Mega Millions, and Cash4Life.
• Virginia Lottery games like Cash 5, Bank a Million, Pick 3, and Pick 4.
• Instant lottery games of various types and staking/prize levels.
• Virginia’s New Year’s Millionaire Raffle.

Those of you who are in the state but don’t yet have an account with the Virginia Lottery can currently take advantage of a great bonus offer. Simply sign up and you’ll get 10 free games plus a 50% Cash Match bonus of up to $100 when you make your first deposit.

How to Sign Up with the Best Lottery Sites

Before you can play online lottery games for real money you will need to sign up for an account with a site that makes it possible. The good news is that this only takes a couple of minutes. Opening a new account with the best lottery sites is just as simple as signing up with an online casino.

First, click the Register button to open a registration form, and then provide the information requested. This will include your name, email address, physical address, and the last few digits of your Social Security number. If any bonus is offered, you may also be asked to enter an associated promo code. 

When you have provided this information and your account has been verified, you’ll be able to make your first deposit and start playing whatever games take your fancy. It really is as simple as that.

Bonuses at the Best Lottery Sites

The best lottery sites will usually give you some kind of bonus for getting involved. Be sure to take advantage of those where possible. Visit our reviews of the lottery sites you are most interested in joining for full details of their current bonuses and the promo codes required to claim them.

Online Lottery Games for Real Money FAQ