Online lottery ticket sales are only permitted in a handful of states. Luckily, the Illinois online lottery is available within state lines.
Illinois residents over the age of 18 can buy lottery tickets through the Illinois Lottery website. The games include Powerball, Mega Millions, LuckyDay Lotto, Lotto with Extra Shot, Pick 3, and Pick 4.
No instant wins or scratch-offs are available online.
You must be physically located in the state to make a purchase. That means you’ll need to allow location services whether you use the website or the app. This can be turned on and off at any time.
The Illinois Lottery app is available for both iOS and Android. But whether you play the website or app, the same games are available.
The Illinois Online Lottery
| Lottery | Illinois State Lottery |
|---|---|
| Launch | 2012 |
| Bonus Offers | No Deposit Bonus |
| Where To Play | Website, iOS app, Android app |
What Types Of Bonuses Are Available For Online Lottery In Illinois?
Unfortunately, Illinois does not have any new player or first deposit bonuses when purchasing lottery tickets online. What you deposit into your account is exactly how much you’ll have to spend.
However, Illinois does have some promotions on a regular basis.
They almost always have a second chance promotion. At the time of writing this article, you could scan a losing $5 ticket for a prize-drawing entry for a trip to Los Angeles.
Other rotating promotions include free tickets and wallet credits.
Is Online Lottery Legal In Illinois?
Yes, it is legal to play the Illinois Online Lottery through the official website or app.
When the Illinois Lottery first launched an online platform in March of 2012, the terms were different than they are today. For starters, the only two games were the Lotto and Mega Millions.
They did end up adding additional games, but everything else required a subscription to purchase. Rather than simply purchasing a single ticket, you had to commit to a specific number of drawings for a minimum amount of time for Powerball, LuckyDay, Pick 3, and Pick 4.
But House Bill 3661 passed in August of 2019 that allowed single-ticket sales on those games on top of Mega Millions and the Lotto.
For now, no instant win games are available at the Illinois Online Lottery. But you can learn more about new and existing scratch-offs and find the nearest retailer.
What Types Of Lottery Games Are Available Online In Illinois?
Powerball
Powerball is a multi-state lottery game with a drawing held every Wednesday and Saturday at 9:59 PM CST.
To play, you can either manually select five numbers between one and 69 or do Quick Pick for randomly generated numbers. You then select the Powerball number between one and 26.
For an extra dollar, you can also do the Power Play, which can multiply your non-jackpot prize by up to 10x. But if you match the initial five numbers and get the Power Play number, you win $2 million as the standard.
You can do the above steps up to 25 times per each biweekly draw.
The largest ever lottery win was a Power Ball ticket worth $1.586 billion.
Use our Powerball Lottery Number Generator to find your lucky numbers.
Mega Millions
Mega Millions is extremely similar to the Powerball. You select five numbers between one and 70, or have them randomly generated using the Quick Pick option. You then select the Mega Ball number between one and 25.
However, there is a somewhat significant difference with the multiplier. For an extra $1.00, the Megaplier gives you the chance to multiply your non-jackpot by 2x, 3x, 4x, or 5x. There is no limit to the win or a standard payout.
The biggest lottery prize in Illinois history was from a Mega Millions ticket worth $393 million.
Check out our Mega Millions Lottery Number Generator to choose your lucky numbers.
Lotto With Extra Shot
For just one dollar, you can play the Illinois-only Lotto at the Illinois Online Lottery. For half the price of a Mega Millions or Powerball ticket (and a relatively significant difference in odds), you can win up to $2 million.
To play, select six numbers between one and 52 or do a Quick Pick. You can also opt-in for the randomly generated Extra Shot number. To win the Lotto, you need to match two or more numbers. But matching ust the Extra Shot gets you a prize too, and adds a multiplier to any regular win (up to the maximum prize of $2 million).
LuckyDay Lotto
If you’re looking for the highest likelihood of winning a jackpot game, LuckyDay Lotto is for you. For one dollar, you can do Quick Pick or select five numbers between one and 45. That’s all there is to it. If two numbers match, you win, and drawings occur twice per day.
Pick 3 and Pick 4
Pick 3 and Pick 4 are technically two different games, but they’re played the same. Both also have drawings twice per day, and ticket prices start at just $0.50.
Interestingly, you choose the type of game you play. The harder the game, the higher the prize. For example, you can choose to have all three of your numbers match in order, or you can have them be in any order.
You can also choose the Fireball for double the ticket prize and an extra number play.
Use our Online Lottery Number Generator to choose numbers for Pick 3 and Pick 4 lottery in Illinois.
How Can I Purchase Online Lottery Tickets In Illinois?
You can purchase online lottery tickets in Illinois by creating an account on the Illinois Lottery website or through the app.
If you’re planning to use the Android app, you’ll need to visit the Illinois Lottery site on your Android to download the Android app. The one listed in the Google Play store is just for ticket scanning and number drawings. However, the full app is available in the Apple App Store for iOS devices.
To register, you need to provide your name, date of birth, address, and social security number. You must be an Illinois resident and over the age of 18 to participate.
Once you create a login, you need to deposit at least $10 into your account. You can do so using the following debit or credit cards:
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Discover
Select the game you want to play, pick your numbers or do Quick Pick, then choose whether you want one ticket, multiple tickets, or a subscription. Once you make the purchase, you’ll be given a digital ticket.
Does Illinois Lottery Offer Online Lottery Ticket Subscriptions?
Yes. While you can purchase single tickets for all the games available through the Illinois Online Lottery as of August 2019, you can still do a subscription.
The subscription range can be based on number of drawings or number of months. The shortest subscription is two drawings. The longest is six months.
If you choose the subscription method, you’ll receive a lottery ticket based on your favorite numbers or Quick Pick. But you won’t be charged directly to your credit or debit card. Instead, you’ll have to have money loaded into the wallet in your account, and money is taken from there.
If you run out of money before your subscription ends, you’ll receive a notification per your settings. You can then simply upload more money to your account and still play the next drawing as long as the ticket is purchased at least 90 minutes beforehand.
Can You Play Powerball Or Mega Millions In Illinois?
Yes. Powerball and Mega Millions are offered through the Illinois Lottery app or website as part of the multi-state lotteries operation. You have the same chance of winning either game whether you buy the ticket online or in stores.
The Illinois-only drawings are the other games, which is why the Mega Millions and Powerball have the biggest jackpots as well as the lowest odds of winning.
The retail version of the Mega Millions and Powerball requires you to go to the store and select your numbers or choose Quick Pick in-person. However, if you prefer to have a physical ticket versus a digital version, a retailer is the only option.
What Does Illinois Do With Funding From The Lottery?
The Illinois Lottery is a nonprofit government entity that’s built to generate revenue for the state. In fact, the online lottery platform was launched to boost state revenue. Sports betting in Illinois was also legalized for that very reason.
Of all the ticket purchases, 64% goes back to players in the form of winnings. That’s nearly two thirds of every dollar going directly back to reward people who play.
The rest of the revenue is divided up into three categories: Good Causes, Retailer Commissions, and Other Expenses.
Good Causes makes up 25%, which is the second biggest category after winnings. Good Causes include public school funding, infrastructure projects, and other community-oriented initiatives.
Of course, the retailers and other selling entities get a small cut of the sales and receive 6% of the revenue. Otherwise, there would be no incentive for gas stations and convenience stores to sell lottery tickets.
The rest of the money, or 5%, goes to administrative fees and other expenses.
More Illinois Gambling Options
Illinois Online Lottery FAQ
18. You need to be at least 18 years old to buy lottery tickets in Illinois. Retailers are required to check your ID, and you have to provide your social security number and date of birth to create an online account.
This is a few years younger than the age requirement for online sports betting in Illinois, which is 21, the same as the age requirement for entering an Illinois casino.
Illinois has a variety of Instant Win games available in lottery retailers. You can find the closest outlets to your location on the Illinois Lottery website. Options include scratch-offs as well as Fast Play progressives and fixed jackpots.
You cannot play Instant Win games via the Illinois Lottery website or app like you can in other states. For new online lottery games to be added, the Illinois Legislature needs to approve it.
No, the Illinois Lottery does not offer a VIP program. In fact, it does not have any sort of rewards program. You cannot earn points by purchasing tickets, as is the case with some online lotteries in other states.
However, you can only participate in certain promotions by creating an online account. People who are not Illinois residents can also play in-store but not online. So, in a way, those who play the online lottery have VIP-level access.
The Illinois State Lottery is regulated by the Department of the Lottery. However, it is operated by the private company Camelot Group, not by the state.
In 2012, operations were handed over to Northstar Lottery Group, which implemented the online lottery. When Camelot Group took the helm, new legislation made single-ticket sales of all online games available (instead of just Mega Millions and Powerball).
Yes, the Illinois online lottery is safe. The site and app utilizes state-of-the-art 256 bit SSL encryption through GoDaddy. They also have an extensive privacy policy on the website and app with all privacy and security information for those looking for more specific details. The Illinois Lottery will immediately notify all online members if there is ever a data breach, as per their Privacy Policy.
No. You must be a legal Illinois resident to register at the Illinois Online Lottery. You also have to be at least 18 years old. Further, you are required to be physically located in the state to purchase the tickets, meaning you have to have your location services enabled. Your ticket can still win if you’re out of state, the geo-tracking only applies to ticket purchases.
No. The Illinois Lottery only allows for online ticket sales in digital form. You cannot legally have lottery tickets delivered to your home in Illinois. Any third-party service offering this is acting outside of Illinois law. You will receive proof of purchase for all tickets bought online, so there’s no need to be concerned about having a physical ticket to prove that you’re a winner.
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