Lottery games are played throughout the United States. There are 44 states and the District of Columbia, as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Only six states do not operate a state lottery, including Alabama, Alaska, Mississippi, Nevada, and Utah. Nevertheless, both Mega Millions and Powerball are available in many states. Powerball and Mega Millions are considered de facto national lottery games. The numbers of people who have won the jackpots are large and increasing every year.

The Maryland lottery is the state’s third-largest source of revenue, after sales taxes, corporate taxes, and income taxes. Last year, sixty-one percent of Lottery revenue was used to award prizes to winners. A further seven percent went to retailer commissions and three percent went to operating costs. The rest of the money went into the General Fund of the State Treasury to support public health, education, and safety programs. These agencies work closely together to help Marylanders win prizes.

In addition to its convenience, playing the lottery online requires a download and periodic updates. These updates take up valuable space on your device and can annoy you. And because you must use the lottery app on your mobile device, you won’t be able to play it on your desktop. So, if you are looking for a way to play the lottery without leaving your home, the online version is the best way to go. However, be warned: online lottery apps and sites only offer the most popular games. Some of them also do not offer smaller games in specific states.