The history of the lottery dates back to Ancient China, when officials began to use it as a way to finance important government projects, including the Great Wall of China. Later, in the Roman Empire, lotteries were used for entertainment at dinner parties. In the reign of Emperor Augustus, the first commercial lottery was organized, with the proceeds intended to repair the City of Rome.

Lotteries in the US are run by state governments, and tens of millions of people play them every week. If you live in the right state, you can play online through an official lottery site. These sites have been legal in the US since 2011, and many offer many tools, tips, and promotions to make playing the lottery more convenient.

Some betting companies, known as iLottery, allow players to bet on particular numbers. This is different from what lottery operators do, which is collect tickets and pay out the winnings. Using an iLottery website, you can buy lottery tickets on the Internet and see if you’ve won. If you’re lucky enough to win, you’ll receive the same prize as the winner of the official lottery.

Online lottery sites provide instant access to different lottery games, and they allow you to select your numbers safely and securely. You can also check out current jackpots and odds before purchasing a ticket. You can even play your lottery tickets from your smartphone or tablet!