Whether you’re looking to play online lottery tickets or pick up a lottery ticket at a local convenience store, you have lots of choices. With the help of a few helpful resources, you can choose a lottery game that is a good fit for you. You can also learn about the history and payoffs of each lottery.

In general, lottery games offer a chance to win life-changing prizes. Although they’re usually offered by states, you can find a lot of lottery-style games across the country. Some state-run lotteries are available online, but not all of them are. Below you’ll find a list of the major lotteries, their payouts, and how you can play them.

The first official lottery in the United States was established in Puerto Rico in 1934. Currently, every state has a lottery system that it operates. Some countries have even taken steps to ensure that the state has a monopoly on the lottery. This means that you are guaranteed to be playing legally, and you can be assured that your money is going to be used correctly.

While most lotteries use a game matrix, which determines how much each player is likely to win, smaller lotteries can still offer significant prizes. The larger jackpots can have a higher probability of being claimed, but they are also more likely to roll over because of a lack of winners.

In the United States, there are 42 states that run their own state-wide lottery. In addition to a variety of draw games, most of these lotteries have instant win games as well. The majority of the proceeds from these lotteries go to schools and colleges, while some of the money goes to cities, towns, and other programs. The federal government is aiming to legalize online lottery sales in the near future, and some states have been authorized to sell tickets online.

Illinois was the first state to allow people to buy lottery tickets online, and it launched a pilot program in March 2012. It later expanded to include Daily Lottery Games, Instant Games, and Powerball lottery tickets. You can purchase your tickets online in Illinois, as well as other states, through third-party applications such as Jackpocket. In addition, some states have created their own lotto applications.

The Idaho Lottery is part of the Multi-State Lottery Association and operates four in-house lottery games. In addition, it offers three other multi-state draw games, including Mega Millions, Powerball, and Lucky for Life. The funds from the lottery go to the state’s general fund, school budgets, and environmental programs.

The Nevada Lottery, on the other hand, does not have a state-wide lottery. Instead, it operates a state-based lottery, and all profits go to the state’s general fund. It is not uncommon for a jackpot to reach the million-dollar mark, but it is likely to be claimed by one or more individuals.

The Massachusetts Lottery is a state-run lottery that features eight draw games. The proceeds are distributed to schools, towns, and state cities.