As a federal republic, the United States of America does not regulate gambling games at a national level; individual US states are responsible for their own legislation regarding games of chance. So in some states, like Utah, all gambling is illegal.
In others, like Nevada, gambling in many forms is legal, but no state or private lotteries are allowed, to protect local private casino operators from undue competition. In many states, however, casino gambling is not allowed, but the state runs a state lottery and uses part of the revenue to fund state-run public projects. So although there is no national American lottery, there are 44 states (as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands) that have their own state lottery.
Online and mobile lottery sites have expanded the range even more; for instance, American lottery fans can now play the twice-weekly Powerball lottery (originally created in Florida) in all 47 territories in which lotteries are legal. The six states with no access to state lotteries are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada and Utah.
Getting Global Lottery Access
Online and mobile lottery sites have changed the game in other ways. Depending on where a site has its home base, it may be able (subject to local regulations) to offer lotteries and other gambling games to players who do not reside in the game’s country of origin. In other words, lottery fans all over the world may have access to several American lottery options online.
Reputable sites will log each user’s country of origin, and only allow access to players who are legally allowed to use them. So choosing an American lottery to play is a matter of checking that you are allowed to do so, registering as a member, and picking your lucky numbers. The US Powerball lottery, which has a minimum bet of US$2.00, can deliver Division 1 jackpots of more than US$500-million; it is certainly one of the American lottery options that keen players should investigate, to see if they are eligible to play.
Multi-state Lotteries
The US Powerball lottery is available in all 47 territories that allow lotteries, and also online to certain player’s worldwide, but it isn’t the only American lottery to transcend state boundaries. The Hot Lotto is available in 15 territories: Delaware, the District of Columbia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont and West Virginia. The Lucky 4 Life lottery covers 16: Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Vermont, with North Dakota to be added in January 2016.
Online and moble sites allow many people living outside these states and districts to particiapate as well, depending on the local lottery regulations. Lottery enthusiasts keen to find the American lottery game that best suits them would do well to explore these and other lotteries online. The top sports betting NZ sites odds against a Division 1 jackpot may be immense, but the potential rewards are just as big.