Unlike traditional casino games, lottery players aren’t required to go to a physical location to purchase tickets. You can play the lottery online through a statewide website, where you can find winning numbers, locations, and contact information. While these sites are primarily intended for information, some are adding Instant Games, which are casino-like games where you can place a wager. You can play these games on the web or download an app to play on your smartphone or tablet.

The United States has a long tradition of lottery, and newspaper advertisements from the colonial era indicate there were hundreds of lotteries operating in the 18th century. New Hampshire was the first US state to offer a lottery, while Puerto Rico followed suit in 1934. Today, there are lottery operations in 45 states and Washington DC. The Virgin Islands plans to start operating its own lottery in 2021. The Virgin Islands has also legalized its lottery and plans to offer instant-win games to residents in the next few years.

While lottery apps are easier to download than traditional lottery games, some people are still reluctant to download them because they don’t feel comfortable with downloading them. Plus, they require periodic updates, which take up valuable storage space and can annoy users. Additionally, you can’t play the lottery using the app on your desktop – you must use it from a mobile device! It’s also possible to find a lottery app that’s specifically designed for mobile use.