Lotteries in the United States are run by 46 jurisdictions; 43 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
In the US, the lottery is subject to the laws of each jurisdiction; there is no national lottery.
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Private lotteries were legal in the US in the early 19th century. Some US patents were granted on new types of lotteries. In 21st-century vernacular, these would be considered business method patents.
Before the advent of government-sponsored lotteries, many illegal lotteries thrived. (see Numbers game, and Peter H. Matthews) The first modern government-run U.S. lottery was established in Puerto Rico in 1934,[1] followed by New Hampshire in 1964; today, lotteries are established in 43 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands; The most recent US lottery to be legalized was in Arkansas; its voters approved a lottery in the 2008 election.
The first modern US joint lottery was formed in 1985, combining on-line games of three lotteries. In 1988, the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) was formed with Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oregon, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia as its charter members; it is best known for Powerball, which was designed to create large jackpots. Another joint lottery, The Big Game (now called Mega Millions), was formed in 1996 by six other lotteries as its charter members.
Instant lottery tickets, also known as scratch cards, were introduced in the 1970s and have become a major source of lottery revenue. Some lotteries have introduced keno and/or video lottery terminals (slot machines in all but name).
Individual lotteries often feature three-digit and four-digit games akin to "numbers games"; a five number game game, and a six number game (the latter two often feature a jackpot.) Some lotteries also offer at least one game similar to keno. Presently, many US lotteries support public education systems.
| Jurisdiction | Lottery? | Mega Millions | Powerball | Other Joint Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | – | – | – |
| Alaska | No | – | – | – |
| Arizona | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| Arkansas | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| California | Yes | Yes | No | 0 |
| Colorado | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| Connecticut | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| Delaware | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2 |
| District of Columbia | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| Florida | Yes | No | Yes | 0 |
| Georgia | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| Hawaii | No | – | – | – |
| Idaho | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2 |
| Illinois | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0^ |
| Indiana | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| Iowa | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2^ |
| Kansas | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2 |
| Kentucky | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| Louisiana | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| Maine | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5 |
| Maryland | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| Massachusetts | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| Michigan | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| Minnesota | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| Mississippi | No | – | – | – |
| Missouri | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| Montana | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2 |
| Nebraska | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| Nevada | No | – | – | – |
| New Hampshire | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5 |
| New Jersey | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| New Mexico | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| New York | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| North Carolina | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| North Dakota | Yes | Yes | Yes | 3 |
| Ohio | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| Oklahoma | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| Oregon | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| Puerto Rico | Yes | No | No | 0 |
| Rhode Island | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| South Carolina | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| South Dakota | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2 |
| Tennessee | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| Texas | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| Utah | No | – | – | – |
| US Virgin Islands | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| Vermont | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5 |
| Virginia | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| Washington | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| West Virginia | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2 |
| Wisconsin | Yes | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| Wyoming | No | – | – | – |
NOTE: ^While not truly "joint" games, Illinois' Pick-3 and Pick-4 are drawn by its lottery; these numbers also are valid in Iowa's equivalent games.
North Dakota does not sell scratch tickets, as its laws allow only multi-jurisdictional games.
These games also are offered by multiple lotteries. Some of these games feature a shared jackpot:
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